Lawsuits are popping up across the nation for illnesses caused by the popular herbicide Roundup. Each year, approximately 250 million pounds of RoundUp is sprayed in nurseries, gardens, crops, and the like. Unfortunately, studies have linked its active ingredient glyphosate to the development of deadly cancers, such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer after exposure to Roundup weed killer, you may have a claim to compensation. Speak to a Missouri RoundUp lawsuit attorney at The Dunken Law Firm. We have more than 25 years of experience advocating for clients going up against large companies. Schedule a free consultation online, or by calling (713) 554-6780.
Based on data from 1992 to 2017, the following counties have had the highest use of glyphosate in Missouri:
Roundup is the brand name for the first glyphosate-based weed killer and began being sold in 1974. Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, is responsible for inventing the chemical glyphosate along with the Roundup formulation. Though glyphosate is now sold under other brand names, RoundUp is the most commonly used herbicide in the world.
RoundUp (glyphosate) is a non-selective herbicide, which means it will kill most species of plants. It works by inhibiting a key enzyme ordinarily used by plants to make amino acids. The chemical quickly absorbs into the leaves and shoots of plants, with the added help of substances called surfactants. Surfactants assist glyphosate in entering plant cells and once the chemical is absorbed, it cannot be broken down. Without being able to produce the amino acids needed, the plant cells starve.
The crops that glyphosate is most commonly sprayed on within the U.S. include corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar beet, and wheat.
After reports of RoundUp causing illnesses, the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a study to assess the potential health risks associated with exposure to glyphosate. In 2015, WHO labeled glyphosate as a probable carcinogen to humans. Monsanto (Bayer), the manufacturer of RoundUp, conducted their own research in response, claiming that their product was safe for use. However, it was later discovered that the company’s data was falsified.
The University of Washington along with the University of California Berkeley also confirmed glyphosate’s link to cancer in a study published on July 2019. The study revealed there is a 41 percent increased risk of developing NHL when exposed to RoundUp.
NHL is a type of blood cancer usually affecting the lymph glands, but the disease may involve any body organ, particularly the liver, spleen, bone or bone marrow. While this cancer is the most commonly contracted disease from glyphosate use, the chemical has been alleged to also cause:
Individuals who face the highest risk from Roundup are those exposed to it on a daily basis. Those people include farmworkers, landscapers, professional gardeners, agricultural workers, and groundskeepers. In addition to spraying the herbicide, activities such as mixing the solution, cleaning it up, breathing it in, or eating or drinking something contaminated with the chemical can be detrimental.
If you have contracted a cancer-related illness after being exposed to RoundUp, you may have a claim against Monsanto (Bayer). We will review your claim for free, schedule one today by calling (713) 554-6780 or submitting a request form online.