In June 2020, the Bayer Corporation (which bought Monsanto) announced that it will pay more than $10 billion to resolve thousands of class-action lawsuit claims brought by people asserting that the weed killer Roundup caused them to develop cancer.
So does Roundup cause cancer? And what can you do about it?
This article will provide you with some answers.
Update: 2/16/2021: VanDerGinst Law is no longer accepting Roundup Lawsuit cases.
What is Roundup and What Are Its Active Ingredients?
Roundup is one of the most popular and widely-used weed killers on the market.
The main active ingredient is a chemical called glyphosate. Many different commercial weed killers contain glyphosate, including Touchdown, Bronco, Glifonox, KleenUp, Ranger Pro, Rodeo, and Weedoff.
In addition to glyphosate, Roundup and other glyphosate-based weed killers contain many other chemicals.
For instance, many of these weed killers contain surfactants to help the chemical enter plant cells as well as other ingredients to increase the product’s shelf life.
Because federal law only requires companies to disclose the main active ingredient (glyphosate) in these weed killers, the exact types and numbers of chemicals they contain are not known to the public.
Do Roundup and Other Glyphosate Weed Killers Cause Cancer?
In short, Roundup and other glyphosate-based weed killers may cause cancer.
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (a division of the World Health Organization) determined that Roundup’s main active ingredient glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic in humans.”
Further, a 2019 meta-analysis study conducted by members of an advisory panel to the United States Environmental Protection Agency concluded that exposure to the high levels of glyphosate in weed killers (such as Roundup) increased the cancer risk of developing a type called non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by 41%.
As more evidence has come to light regarding the potential dangers of Roundup and other glyphosate-containing weed killers, the manufacturers of this product have faced legal liability.
In 2018 and 2019, juries in several high-profile lawsuits found (based on given evidence) that exposure to Roundup caused the plaintiffs to develop cancer and awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.
Further, in 2020, Bayer (which bought Monsanto) agreed to settle thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits for $10 billion.
Types of Cancer That May Be Linked to Roundup:
Exposure to Roundup has been linked to lymphatic cancer, otherwise known as lymphoma.
The lymphatic system is part of the body’s natural network of defenses against germs and disease.
The lymphatic system includes the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, tonsils, adenoids, and bone marrow. Lymphoma can affect all those areas as well as other organs throughout the body.
Signs and symptoms of lymphoma may include:
- Painless swelling of lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin
- Fever
- Persistent fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss
- Itchy skin
In particular, Roundup and other glyphosate weed killers have been linked to a certain type of lymphoma called “non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”
With non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cancerous tumors develop in a type of white blood cell called a lymphocyte.
In some cases, the cancer can spread to other parts of the lymphatic system. It may sometimes even spread to other organs in the body.
Signs and symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may include:
- Painless, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Chest pain, coughing or trouble breathing
- Persistent fatigue
- Night sweats
- Fever
- Unexplained weight loss
There are a number of subtypes of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The two main groups are those involving B-cells, which produce antibodies to fight infection, and T-cells, which kill infections directly.
Types of B-cell lymphoma include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular, Burkitt lymphoma, and lymphomamantle cell lymphoma.
Types of T-cell lymphoma include cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma.
What the EPA and Monsanto Say About Roundup Cancer
Monstanto is standing by evidence provided by the EPA in January of 2020 that states glyphosate is “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans”.
Bayer, who owns Monsanto, states on their website that “There is an extensive body of research on glyphosate and Bayer’s glyphosate-based herbicides, including more than 800 studies submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in connection with the registration process, which confirms these products can be used safely and that glyphosate does not cause cancer.”
As you’ve read in the previous sections of this article, there is also evidence that Roundup may cause cancer, and juries continue to find in favor of plaintiffs against Monsanto and Bayer.
Since their may be a link between glyphosate-based weed killers and cancer, it’s important to speak with an experienced lawyer if you’ve been diagnosed with cancer after prolonged use of these products.
Cancer Lawsuit Settlements
The June 2020 settlement helped Bayer to settle more than 100,000 cases, which covered most of the lawsuits filed against them at that time.
Since then more cases have arisen, and Bayer has reached another settlement on February 3, 2020.
In this second settlement the company is trying to settle future legal claims with a $2 billion deal over the next four years. It’s stated that future claimants could receive up to $200,000 under this new deal.
It is still possible for people who used Roundup and have a cancer diagnosis to file outside of this claim if they do not like the offer.
Roundup cancer lawsuits have been plaguing Bayer since they purchased Monsanto, so this recent settlement is another attempt to put this litigation behind them.
How VanDerGinst Law can help:
Update: 2/16/2021: VanDerGinst Law is no longer accepting Roundup Lawsuit cases.
If you or a loved one has suffered significant exposure to Roundup or another glyphosate-containing weed killer and developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, call VanDerGinst Law at 800-797-5391.
The initial consultation is free of charge. If we agree to handle your injury case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if, and when, we recover money for you.
In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. So please contact us right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.
Our team of personal injury lawyers is licensed to practice in Illinois, Iowa, and the federal courts.
We have handled and can handle serious cases all over the country.
No matter where you reside, VanDerGinst Law can help you.
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