The United States federal judge overseeing the Roundup® litigation has ordered Bayer to enter into confidential mediation with a plaintiff, over her allegation that her prolonged use of Roundup® lead to her cancer. In his order, Judge Vince Chhabria canceled the trial which was scheduled for May 20th.
Bayer lost the first two trials involving Roundup®, and a third trial is currently ongoing. Judge Chhabria, in canceling the trial, indicated that the court’s and the parties’ resources would be put to better use in organizing the more than 11,000 Roundup® cases that are currently pending against Bayer/Monsanto. Some of these cases will likely be dismissed, while others will either be sent to state courts or will remain in federal court as they move through the trial process or toward settlement.
The Link Between Roundup® and Cancer
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATDSR), which is under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), has released a study linking glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup®) to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The results of this study were supposed to be released in 2015, but evidence that surfaced in the initial two Roundup® trials indicated that Monsanto allegedly influenced officials at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to delay or “kill” the report. The ATDSR report used data from several separate studies, including one conducted by Monsanto, and found that there is an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for people who are exposed to glyphosate. The risk is stronger the longer a person is exposed to glyphosate. The report indicates that the link is only significant in a few of the studies, but that all studies indicate some risk of cancer. The report goes on to recommend further research be done on glyphosate, as well as other ingredients found in glyphosate formulations (Roundup® has multiple chemicals in its formulation other than glyphosate that may contribute to the cancer risk).
The ATDSR also recommended future studies to consider other potential hazards of glyphosate, including:
- Respiratory effects from inhalation
- The effects of consuming glyphosate via food and water
- The developmental effects on the male reproductive organs
- The exposure risks for children
- The exposure risks for miscarriage and preterm birth
An Advocate for You
If you or a family member have reason to believe that your non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was caused by long-term exposure to Roundup®, consult with our attorney to ascertain if there may be a case against Bayer/Monsanto.
Please contact the law firm of Brett H. Oppenheimer, PLLC to further discuss your concerns. Call (502) 242-8877 or send us a message to request a free consultation.