ROUNDUP® AND NON-HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA RISK

The widely-used weed killer, Roundup®, is under public scrutiny after a California jury decided that Monsanto should pay $289 million for not warning of the risk of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma from exposure to its weed killing products, Roundup® and Ranger Pro®.

Why is the Roundup® Dangerous?

In 2015 a division of the World Health Organization, The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), found that glyphosate caused cancer in lab tests on animals and that glyphosate also damaged DNA in human cells. The agency labeled Roundup® as a “probable human carcinogen”.

Who is at Risk with Roundup®?

Roundup® is used by home gardeners as well as agricultural companies farming such crops as soybeans and corn, so the risks associated with glyphosate are far-reaching. In fact, Roundup® has become the most widely used weed killer in the world. Part of the reason for its popularity is that many weed-killers also kill the crops. Monsanto, the manufacturer of Roundup®, developed a way to re-engineer some corn and soybean crops so that they are resistant to the herbicide. Additionally, in recent years the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has allowed greater levels of herbicides to be sprayed on crops, so exposure to glyphosate is on the increase.

Are there Lawsuits Against the Makers of Roundup®?

In the United States there are currently over 5000 lawsuits filed against Monsanto claiming the manufacturer did not warn the public of the possible cancer risks from exposure to Roundup®. In March of 2017 damaging documents were unsealed by a federal court overseeing the litigation against Monsanto. These documents show that Monsanto may have colluded with a senior director at the EPA to shed doubt on the IARC findings that glyphosate (Roundup®) causes cancer. Furthermore, Monsanto may have ghost-written studies that the EPA used in its evaluation of glyphosate as a carcinogen.

What Should Consumers Do?

Consumers that have reasons to believe that their non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was caused by toxic exposure to Roundup® are encouraged to consult with an attorney to determine if they may have a case against Monsanto. Please contact our law firm, Brett H. Oppenheimer, PLLC if you would like to further discuss your concerns.