Problem Summary
Roundup, one of the most widely used weed killers in the world, has been linked to an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and other types of cancer, and research shows that individuals exposed to the herbicide sprayed on crops, in parks, on school grounds and on lawns and home gardens may face a 40% increased risk of developing cancer. This includes not only agricultural workers, farmers, farm workers, commercial nursery workers, landscapers and commercial spray applicators, but also at-home users and other individuals who regularly come in contact with Roundup.
About Roundup
Roundup is a broad-spectrum weed killer commonly sprayed on corn, cotton, soybean and other crops, as well as on home gardens, parks, orchards and backyard lawns, to kill weeds and grasses that are unsightly or that damage crops. The potential issue with Roundup is the weed killer’s active ingredient, glyphosate, which was developed by Monsanto in the 1970s and quickly became the go-to weed killer globally. Glyphosate is applied to the leaves of plants and works by blocking the enzymatic production of certain amino acids that are needed for plant growth. Potentially dangerous exposure to glyphosate can occur from breathing in the chemical while spraying, mixing or cleaning up Roundup, or from eating food or drinking water contaminated with the chemical.
Glyphosate is currently sold in more than 160 countries and is used liberally on nearly every acre of soy, cotton and corn in the United States. In addition to developing the most popular weed killer in the world, Monsanto is also a leading producer of seeds. In the 1990s, Monsanto began developing genetically-modified (GMO) “Roundup Ready” corn, soy and cotton seeds designed to withstand the application of Roundup, which allowed farmers to spray their fields with the herbicide without worrying about harming the crops. What Monsanto failed to disclose is that this abundant application of and/or exposure to Roundup may have put farmers and nearby residents at risk for developing NHL and other potentially life-threatening cancers.
The potential issue with Roundup is the weed killer’s active ingredient, glyphosate, which was developed by Monsanto in the 1970s and quickly became the go-to weed killer globally.
Roundup Side Effects
A growing body of scientific research suggests that Roundup may be toxic to human health and individuals exposed to the weed killer through inhalation or direct skin contact run the risk of serious health consequences, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and its various subtypes, such as chronic lymphocytic lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia and other types of cancer. Additionally, trace amounts of glyphosate have been found in oats, honey, wheat, organic eggs, soy coffee creamer and other foods. In 2016, FDA researchers tested 10 samples of American honey and found that all 10 tested positive for glyphosate, some at twice the legal limit.
In 2015, drawing on years of peer-reviewed scientific studies and government reports, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a “probable human carcinogen,” which sparked concerns about the potential health consequences of exposure to Roundup. In 2017, a branch of California’s Environmental Protection Agency added glyphosate to a list of cancer-causing chemicals. The World Health Organization has also classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic.” Despite these findings, Monsanto continues to aggressively market Roundup as effective and safe for human use, vehemently rejecting any link between glyphosate and cancer.
Prior to the IARC’s classification of glyphosate as a “probable human carcinogen,” there was no way commercial and residential Roundup users could have been aware of the potential link between Roundup and cancer. Yet, there is evidence that Monsanto has known for decades that Roundup’s active ingredient increases the risk of cancer, and not only is the company accused of withholding this critical information from the public, but it is also suspected of falsifying data, conspiring with the EPA to contest the link between Roundup and cancer, and engaging in a deceptive campaign to systematically undermine legitimate scientific studies exposing the dangers of Roundup.
Roundup Resources & Studies
- The IARC Classifies Glyphosate as “Probably Carcinogenic to Humans”
- Compensation for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Victims Exposed to Monsanto Roundup
- California Adds Glyphosate to List of Cancer-Causing Chemicals
- Landmark $289 Million Verdict Against Monsanto in Roundup Trial
- Unsealed Company Documents Raise Questions About Safety of Roundup
- 2001 Study Identifying a Dose-Response Relationship Between Glyphosate Exposure and Cancer
- 2008 Study Linking Pesticide Exposure to an Increased Risk of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- 2019 Study Linking Roundup Exposure to a 41% Increased Risk of Cancer
Roundup Settlements & Litigation
Monsanto now faces a growing number of product liability lawsuits in state and federal courts across the country, all of which involve similar allegations that glyphosate causes cancer and that Monsanto knew for years about the potential risk of cancer from Roundup exposure, yet failed to warn consumers. In 2018, one of the first Roundup lawsuits to go to trial resulted in a landmark $289 million verdict for a California man who alleged that Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The award was later reduced to $78 million, but at the time of the original verdict, the judge overseeing the trial stated that Monsanto “acted with malice, oppression or fraud and should be punished for its conduct.” More than 9,000 Roundup lawsuits are currently pending against Monsanto in courts across the country, and nearly 800 of these lawsuits have been consolidated for coordinated pretrial proceedings in San Francisco, as part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL).
