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Herbicide Overview
Herbicides are widely used to kill unwanted plants in both industrial and domestic settings.
The two main types of herbicides are selective herbicides and non-selective herbicides. Selective herbicides target specific types of plants, meaning that all other types of plants will survive the herbicide. Non-selective herbicides kill plants indiscriminately and are often used when all plant life needs to be cleared from an area.
Roundup is one common herbicide that is widely used in the agricultural industry. The main ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate, a broad spectrum weed killer. In order to effectively kill plants, glyphosate needs to come into contact with plant roots. Once the chemical comes into contact with roots, it interferes with the enzymes in the plant which causes it to die.
Legal Issue
Some consumers argue that Roundup’s active ingredient glyphosate can cause cancer, specifically non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a blood cancer which starts in the white blood cells, a key portion of the body’s immune system.
The International Agency for Research of Cancer (IARC) has classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen. The agency’s 2015 report linked glyphosate and four other herbicides to cancer after studies were published in the U.S., Canada, and Sweden.
A notable 2001 Canadian study found that men who were habitually exposed to glyphosate were at risk for developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. According to the study, the risk was even present if men had been exposed to the chemical for less than 10 years.
A U.S. study published in the Occupational and Environmental Medicine journal showed that glyphosate was “potentially carcinogenic” and was “associated with increased NHL [non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma] incidence.”
A 2008 Swedish study published in the International Journal of Cancer concluded that the risk for developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma doubled after less than 10 years of glyphosate exposure.
Due to evidence that glyphosate may cause cancer, some consumers argue that Roundup manufacturer Monsanto negligently distributed a defective product to consumers. Manufacturers are responsible for providing products that do not pose risks to consumers and distributing dangerous products may mean that manufacturers are liable for any resulting injuries.
Lawsuits & Settlements
Monsanto and its parent company Bayer have faced thousands of lawsuits regarding their Roundup products and the potential risk for cancer. Farmers, farm workers, home gardeners, landscapers, and everyday consumers have filed Roundup lawsuits claiming that Roundup caused them to develop cancer. More recently, some of these lawsuits have resulted in massive settlements for plaintiffs.
According to Reuters, in May 2019, a jury in California court award a couple $2 billion in punitive damages and $55 million in compensatory damages. The couple claimed that they both developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Roundup.
Although many lawsuits have resulted in million dollar verdicts, Bayer still has hope of fighting the claims. As reported by CBS News, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a statement that it “continues to find that there are no risks to public health when glyphosate is used in accordance with its current label and that glyphosate is not a carcinogen.” Although these findings are opposed to other findings, the agency stands firm on its stance.
