As Bayer continues to deny one can get lymphoma from Roundup, the scientific evidence indicates otherwise – and juries in the U.S. are in agreement.

In Canada, lawyers across the Dominion are preparing to take their cases before judge and jury. Recently, law firms in the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta launched their own $500 million class action on behalf of 60 plaintiffs who claim their lymphoma was caused by exposure to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup.

Can One Contract Lymphoma From Roundup?

The popular weedkiller Roundup, manufactured by Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) is a controversial product. Some major organizations consider Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, to be a human carcinogen—that is, a substance capable of causing cancer in humans.

Glyphosate has so far been banned in more than two dozen countries, and some states in the U.S. Indeed, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer lists glyphosate as a “probable human carcinogen.”

However, the Canadian government has not yet banned Roundup.

While regulators at Health Canada continue to side with Bayer, which continues to insist that glyphosate is not carcinogenic when “used according to directions,” scientists continue to find links between glyphosate exposure and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).

The most recent study on this subject was a meta-analysis appearing in Mutation Research. Based on an examination of data from the Agricultural Health Study and five additional case-control studies, researchers determined that people exposed to glyphosate were over 40 percent more likely to contract NHL.

How Does Glyphosate Cause NHL?

The exact mechanism of action through which a human contracts lymphoma from Roundup exposure is not entirely clear. What is known about glyphosate is that it shuts down a metabolic process system found in plants and bacteria, known as the shikimate pathway. When this process is blocked, these plants and bacteria are unable to synthesize the nutrients they need to survive.

When ingested either in food or through the skin, it appears to affect beneficial gut flora that are one of the body’s first lines of defense against disease. NHL is commonly associated with a compromised immune system as well as disruption of the endocrine system, which regulates many important bodily functions.

Why Did Health Canada Reauthorize the Use of Glyphosate?

Like the FDA in the U.S., Health Canada has “officially” stated that glyphosate is not carcinogenic. However, the agency has faced some criticism from scientists and activists who claim that the research used was compromised because it was ghostwritten and manipulated by scientists employed by Monsanto, Bayer’s corporate predecessor.

Similar allegations have been made in the U.S. against that country’s Food and Drug Administration.

What Actions are Being Taken Against Glyphosate Use in Canada?

While Health Canada and the national government in Ottawa reportedly continue to ignore the concerns of citizen activists and scientists, local and provincial governments are taking a stand. Currently, the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, has banned the use of glyphosate-based herbicides in parks and public spaces. The government of Quebec has prohibited the use of glyphosate in forest management, and the city of Montreal has passed a comprehensive ban that will go into effect next year. In total, 40 Canadian cities and eight of the ten provinces have restrictions on the use of glyphosate in place.

In light of emerging evidence that people can get lymphoma from Roundup, several other nations have moved to either restrict glyphosate use or phase it out altogether.

Roundup Cancer Litigation

Monsanto (and, by extension Bayer) has been hit with thousands of lawsuits with allegations of Roundup cancer.

If you are a Canadian citizen and have been diagnosed with lymphoma from Roundup exposure, or another type of cancer after having been exposed to Roundup, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot undo the pain and suffering caused by a cancer diagnosis, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially after a cancer diagnosis, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced lawyer. Consulting a lawyer can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.