Glyphosate in RoundUp Weedkiller Linked to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Searcy Denney is representing clients diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) after being exposed to the active ingredient found in Monsanto’s RoundUp Weedkiller in lawsuits alleging that the manufacturer failed to warn the public of the risks associated with the product’s use.

RoundUp Weedkiller Contains Carcinogen

While RoundUp weedkiller and other glyphosate products have achieved approval across the world, their carcinogenic effects on humans and toxicity to the environment have raised striking concerns.

Monsanto was recently found liable in a court of law for falsely promoting chemicals linked to cancer as safe for use. The plaintiff was diagnosed with a form of terminal cancer called Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL).

RoundUp’s Popularity & Dangers

Millions of Americans use RoundUp products. The active ingredient, glyphosate, is the main component in common garden products around the world and used extensively in agriculture.

Farmers quickly adopted the herbicide, and RoundUp products of all kinds dominated the agricultural landscape.

By 2007, glyphosate was the most used herbicide in the United States’ agricultural sector and the second-most used in home and garden, government and industry, and commerce. RoundUp products are common in households, on school grounds and in parks.

Can exposure to glyphosate in RoundUp be dangerous or even life-threatening?

The answer is yes. A court of law determined that the chemical found in RoundUp was the cause of a man’s terminal cancer.

Monsanto Found Liable for Man’s Cancer

On August 10, 2018, Monsanto was found liable in a landmark verdict for causing the terminal cancer of a school groundskeeper named Dewayne Johnson. The Superior Court of California jury found that Monsanto failed to warn Mr. Johnson of the cancerous risks associated with its weed killers. Monsanto was ordered to pay $289 million in damages.

Dewayne Johnson’s case was the first lawsuit of its kind to go to trial. Johnson alleged that the company irresponsibly marketed a dangerous, carcinogenic product. Monsanto is facing more than 5,000 similar lawsuits across the United States.

Johnson’s lawyers said their client developed NHL after using glyphosate herbicide products RoundUp and Ranger Pro while working as a pest control manager for the California school system. Following his diagnosis, Johnson underwent chemotherapy and learned he only had 18 months left to live.

Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

NHL is a type of cancer that starts in white blood cells, called lymphocytes, which belong to the body’s immune system. While lymphomas can happen anywhere in the body where there is lymph tissue, a few main sites include:

• Lymph nodes
• Spleen
• Bone marrow
• Thymus
• Adenoids and tonsils
• Digestive tract

NHL can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the type and location in the body.

Common symptoms include:

• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Chills
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Swollen abdomen
• Feeling full after only a small amount of food
• Chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath or cough
• Severe or frequent infections
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Fever
• Drenching night sweats
• Unexpected weight loss

Glyphosate Linked to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Scholarly reviews of glyphosate have evaluated its toxicity and cancerous risks – particularly for NHL. Findings included:

• A 2014 study linked an increased risk of NHL in workers exposed to the chemical
• The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classification of glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic in humans” based on epidemiological, animal and in vitro studies

Because of its danger, cities and parks are now banning the use of RoundUp in their facilities. Two California North Bay cities no longer use RoundUp products following the ruling against Monsanto.

Monsanto’s Ethical Violations

Despite evidence of RoundUp’s link to increased cancer risk, Monsanto continues to market their popular product. Brent Wisner, a lawyer for Mr. Johnson, explained that jurors had seen internal company documents “proving that Monsanto has known for decades that glyphosate and specifically Roundup could cause cancer” and that the company “put consumer safety first over profits.”

Company documents indicate Monsanto’s priority was to protect its image to the point of disregarding public safety. This included unethical practices, such as paying academic researchers to support positive reviews of glyphosate.

Monsanto appears to have underhandedly attacked findings that linked glyphosate to cancer by the International Agency for Research and Cancer. The company reportedly paid an academic and proponent of genetically modified crops to publish an article under his trusted name, affirming the safety of glyphosate. The academic, Henry Miller, appears to have published a pre-written article by Monsanto as his own on Forbes.com. Forbes ultimately removed the content and terminated their relationship with Mr. Miller based on his violation of terms with the article.

The corruption did not end there. In 2015, Monsanto attempted to publish propaganda through John Acquavella, an internal academic research author. Though he was funded by Monsanto, Acquavella wrote an email about the research stating, “I can’t be part of deceptive authorship…we call that ghostwriting, and it is unethical.”

Monsanto made unconscionable efforts to push back against alarming studies showing RoundUp’s connection to cancer by publishing positive articles about it.

Help for Victims of NHL From RoundUp Use

Even though Monsanto’s products have long been suspected as dangerous, the company refuses to pull  products containing glyphosate from the market. Companies manufacturing dangerous, life-threatening products should be held responsible for putting profits over people.

If you believe that RoundUp weed killer caused illness or injury to you or your loved one, it is important that you speak with an experienced products liability lawyer who can help you obtain compensation for your losses. You could be entitled to compensation to help pay for:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical bills
• Lost Wages
• Loss of quality of life
• Funeral costs

The legal team at Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley has successfully represented countless clients just like you, obtaining over $5.8 billion in verdicts and settlements. With over 45 years’ experience as personal injury lawyers, our skilled attorneys know how to protect your rights and will fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (800) 780-8607 for a free consultation to discuss your potential case.