If you frequently utilize Roundup and similar weed killing products in your work or when maintaining your property, you should be aware of the severe health risks associated with those products. Recent research is showing that the chemicals contained in Roundup can cause a consumer to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other forms of debilitating cancer. So far there has been one landmark case against Monsanto, the producers of Roundup, with several thousand more lawsuits on the horizon. If you or a family member developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or cancer after using Roundup, you should consult with an experienced Roundup lawsuit lawyer for help.
Attorney Prosper Shaked is here to provide you with aggressive legal representation against agricultural companies that recklessly manufacture and market products that can seriously harm consumers. Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA serves clients nationwide and is here to discuss your legal options if using Roundup caused you to develop cancer. To schedule a free legal consultation, call Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA at (305) 694-2676, or contact us online.
What is Roundup Weed Killer?
Roundup is one of the most popular herbicides in the world. Roundup is produced by Monsanto, an agricultural corporation that is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Roundup has been receiving widespread attention for the past few years because of the primary ingredient that Monsanto uses to create it: glyphosate.
Monsanto began utilizing glyphosate in 1974 for its ability to kill weeds by eliminating proteins that are necessary for a plant to grow. As of today, Roundup is sold nationally and in over 150 countries worldwide. It is estimated that approximately 1.4 billion pounds of Roundup are used per year. In the United States, Roundup is the second most popular weed killer used across the nation. Due to its ease of use and its ability to kill weeds like poison ivy, kudzu, and dandelions, Roundup can be found in various households across the U.S.
The use of Roundup increased dramatically once genetically engineered seeds were created that could withstand chemicals included in weed killers. Therefore, there are several crops that may have been treated with Roundup that have not been examined for their effect on humans. Additionally, a recent study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey showed that glyphosate is present in many rivers, streams, and waterways in at least 38 states.
How Dangerous is Roundup?
Several studies have examined the effects of Roundup exposure on the human body. To allow companies like Monsanto to maintain trade secrets, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permits some companies to only publish a portion of their ingredient list. Unfortunately, this can make it difficult to examine the side effects of a particular product on the human body. However, studies conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have shown that Roundup and other herbicides containing glyphosate are likely dangerous to humans.
After examining years of research about Roundup and other weed killers that use glyphosate, the IARC concluded that the active ingredient in Roundup’s herbicide is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” This means that Roundup contains ingredients that can cause a person to develop cancer. The IARC analyzed several case studies involving farmers, tree nursery workers, and municipal weed-control workers in the U.S. and across the world.
The IARC also stated that exposure to Roundup has been shown to cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and several variations of the disease. This statement is significant because it may be used as evidence against Monsanto to prove that their product can cause NHL and other forms of cancer. Monsanto is vehemently denying all claims that glyphosate and Roundup are causing individuals to develop cancer. Despite conflicting evidence, Monsanto alleges that any injuries that resulted from the use of Roundup were likely caused because agricultural workers and other consumers neglected to use necessary protective gear when handling the weed killer.
Exposure to Roundup can occur by inhalation or by direct skin contact. The IARC’s research team also discovered that glyphosate might cause DNA and chromosomal damage that can be especially dangerous to women who are pregnant.
It is also important to note that some organizations and states are beginning to declare that some products which contain glyphosate be labeled as cancer-causing carcinogens. For example, in March 2017, California labeled glyphosate as a substance that could cause cancer.
What is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is a type of cancer that attacks your lymphatic system. Your lymphatic system is responsible for fighting illnesses and diseases that attempt to spread throughout your body. When a person develops NHL, tumors will develop from the lymphocytes (white blood cells) in their body.
There are several different types of lymphoma, like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. However, NHL is the most common type of lymphoma. The most common signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Swollen abdomen
- Unexplainable weight loss
- Night sweats and fevers
- Painless and enlarged lymph nodes in your neck, armpits, and groin area
- Feeling full after eating a small amount of food, possibly because of an enlarged spleen
- Chest pain or pressure
- Consistent coughing or shortness of breath
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Consistently suffering infections
Dewayne Johnson, the California groundskeeper who recently won a $289 million award against Monsanto, suffers from other severe symptoms of NHL. For example, Johnson suffers from lesions that cover most of his body. Additionally, Johnson stated that occasionally his NHL would impair him to the point that he cannot speak. Lymphomas can develop anywhere and can affect several parts of a person’s body, like the digestive tract or thymus, a small organ that creates T cells.
Risk Factors for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
A risk factor is a variable that may affect your chances of developing a disease like NHL. Certain forms of cancer will have different risk factors than others. There are several risk factors that may affect your likelihood of developing NHL. Even if you possess many of these risk factors, you may still file a claim against a company for exposure to a harmful substance.
Age
Being older is one risk factor for developing NHL and other forms of lymphoma. Most cases of lymphoma affect individuals who are age 60 or older. However, there are other forms of lymphoma that are more common in younger individuals.
Gender
Men are at a higher risk of developing NHL than women. However, it is important to note that there are some forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that are more prevalent in women. Researchers have not yet pinpointed the reasons for these findings.
Race, Ethnicity, and Geography
Within the United States, NHL is more prevalent among Caucasians than African Americans and Asian Americans. On a global scale, NHL is more common in developed countries, with the U.S. and Europe having the highest rates of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Additionally, some forms of lymphoma are caused by infections that are common in certain parts of the world.
Family History of NHL
If you have a parent, child, or sibling who developed NHL, you are at a higher risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Exposure to Chemicals and Drugs
The American Cancer Society has acknowledged that some herbicides and insecticides may cause a person to develop NHL.
There are various other risk factors that are not listed above. For example, a weakened immune system and certain infections are also linked to NHL. If you have any of the symptoms or risk factors named above and were exposed to the herbicide Roundup, you should seek medical attention to determine the status of your health.
Roundup and Monsanto Cancer Lawsuits
On August 11, 2018, a San Francisco jury awarded Dewayne Johnson, a former groundskeeper, $39 million in compensatory damages and $250 million in punitive damages. Johnson, who would apply Roundup 20 to 30 times a year for a school district near San Francisco, alleged that his exposure to Roundup caused him to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Johnson stated that he suffered two accidents where he was left soaked in the weed killing product and that two years after using Roundup he developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
To receive this judgment, Johnson had to prove that Roundup was a “substantial contributing factor” to his cancer. With the success of Johnson’s lawsuit, the floodgates have opened for many other lawsuits involving Roundup and the chemical glyphosate.
Currently, there are over 560 lawsuits that are pending against Monsanto in just the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. There are an estimated 8,000 lawsuits that have been filed across the nation against Monsanto. Due to a large number of lawsuits, multidistrict litigation (MDL) will likely be utilized. Multidistrict litigation occurs when a large number of lawsuits with substantially the same claim are consolidated into one large case.
Litigation regarding Roundup is relatively new. Therefore, outside of the Johnson case, it remains to be seen how many of these cases will be adjudicated.
Roundup Cancer Lawsuit Lawyer for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients
If you or a family member developed lymphoma from Roundup exposure, you should contact a Roundup cancer lawyer for help pursuing financial compensation. Attorney Prosper Shaked is willing to fight with you against large corporations to pursue the justice you deserve. To schedule a free legal consultation, call Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA at (305) 694-2676, or contact us online.