Roundup & CancerHissey, Mulderig & Friend2020-09-08T16:44:30+00:00
Researchers have found that exposure to Roundup or other products containing the herbicide known as glyphosate can increase the risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or other cancers.
Workers and other individuals who were diagnosed with lymphoma after using Roundup may be eligible to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for their injuries.
➢ What type of cancers are caused by Roundup?
The most common type of cancer that has been linked to exposure to Roundup is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a disease that affects the body’s immune system cells.
Roundup has also been linked to other types of lymphoma, including:
- Burkitt lymphoma
- Follicular lymphoma
- Hairy cell lymphoma
- Large B-cell lymphoma
- Mantle cell lymphoma
- Peripheral T-cell lymphoma
- Skin lymphoma
➢ What is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a term that refers to several types of cancers that all share common characteristics. The common element in all of these cancers is that they attack the body’s white blood cells, also known as the lymphocytes. White blood cells play an important role in the body’s immune system to help fight against diseases and infections.
The two main types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are known as B-cell and T-cell lymphomas, which are named after the two different types of lymphocytes that can be affected by this disease. B cells produce antibodies in order to help protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other germs. T cells perform multiple duties for the immune system, including destroying abnormal cells in the body, regulating the activity of other immune system cells, and destroying germs. Of the two types, B-cell lymphoma is more common.
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can occur anywhere in the body where white blood cells are found, including:
- Adenoid glands
- Bone marrow
- Digestive tract
- Lymph nodes
- Spleen
- Thymus
- Tonsils
➢ What is the evidence linking glyphosate to lymphoma?
Between the 1970s – when glyphosate was first developed by Monsanto – and the last decade – by which time Roundup had become the most widely-used herbicide in the world – there was little scientific evidence linking Roundup and an increased cancer risk.
In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer published a study that examined the potential link between Roundup and cancer. Researchers found that glyphosate is “probably” carcinogenic to humans. Although subsequent studies concluded that glyphosate exposure did not cause cancer, this research was widely criticized for relying too heavily on studies that had been conducted or funded by the industry, including Monsanto.
In 2019, US researchers conducted a review of the existing studies about the link between exposure to larger amounts of products containing glyphosate and the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The study found that individuals who were exposed to high amounts of Roundup or other glyphosate herbicides were 41% more likely to develop lymphoma.
Researchers also concluded that the risk of developing lymphoma increased depending on the amount of glyphosate to which an individual was exposed. Because many of the studies reviewed by the US scientists were conducted before the use of Roundup became widespread over the last two decades, it is likely that workers and other individuals who were exposed to glyphosate over this time period came into contact with larger quantities of the chemical.
➢ Who is at risk of developing cancer from glyphosate exposure?
The risk of developing lymphoma after exposure to Roundup or other glyphosate-containing products is directly related to the amount of the herbicide to which an individual is exposed. As a result, workers whose jobs require them to work with large quantities of the chemical may face a significant risk of developing cancers caused by Roundup and glyphosate.
Some of the jobs where workers may face a high risk of glyphosate exposure include:
- Agricultural workers
- Farmers
- Gardeners
- Groundskeepers
- Landscapers
- Lawn care professionals
There is also evidence which suggested that the failure to use protective equipment while working with Roundup or glyphosate products may also increase the risk of developing lymphoma. As a result, homeowners and home gardening aficionados – who may be less likely to protect themselves against exposure than professional workers – could also be at risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
➢ How many Roundup lawsuits have been filed?
As of July 2020, roughly 125,000 lawsuits against Bayer and Monsanto had been filed on behalf of individuals who allege that they were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using Roundup. Several of these lawsuits have already gone to trial, resulting in multi-million dollar verdicts against the two companies.
In August 2018, a jury awarded $78 million in damage to Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, a groundskeeper who was diagnosed with a terminal case of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after years of exposure to Roundup. In March 2019, a California homeowner named Edwin Hardeman was awarded $80 million in damage after a jury found that his lymphoma was caused by 30 years of spraying the herbicide around his property. In May of that same year, a California couple named Alva and Alberta Pilliod were awarded $2 billion in damages after it was found that their lymphoma was also linked to Roundup.
➢ Do I qualify to file a lawsuit?
Individuals who have been diagnosed with lymphoma after using Roundup may be eligible to file a lawsuit or join an existing class action against Bayer and Monsanto. The first step in taking legal action is to speak with an experienced product liability attorney to learn more about your legal rights and find out whether you may be eligible to file a claim.
For more information about filing a Roundup lawsuit and to learn whether you may qualify, contact the lawyers at Hissey, Mulderig & Friend for a free legal consultation. You can reach us by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or by filling out our free case evaluation form located on the right side of this page.