Is Roundup poisonous to humans?

The popular weed killer Roundup contains an active ingredient that is poisonous to humans; however, fatalities are relatively rare following exposure. Roundup cancer, on the other hand, has been the subject of litigation for years.

What is Roundup?

Roundup is an herbicide with glyphosate as its active ingredient. Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum weed killer that targets an enzyme found in weeds to stop plant growth.

Roundup kills more than 200 types of weeds and grass, including bamboo, bentgrass, Bermudagrass, common buckthorn, dallisgrass, English ivy, Johnsongrass, monkey grass, nimblewill, orchard grass, poison ivy, and poison oak, according to Roundup’s website.

Is Roundup poisonous to humans?

Glyphosate is a powerful chemical that is poisonous to humans when ingested. Although skin exposure, eye exposure, and inhalation can lead to side effects, rare cases of death are most common when the chemical is ingested.

Common symptoms of glyphosate poisoning include corrosive injury to the gastrointestinal tract, mouth, throat, and upper abdomen pain, difficulty swallowing, kidney impairment, and liver problems, according to the Detox Project.

More severe symptoms of glyphosate poisoning that are potentially fatal may include:

• Respiratory distress
• Loss of consciousness
• Pulmonary edema (fluid in lungs)
• Shock
• Arrhythmia (heart rate irregularities)
• Kidney failure
• Metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the body caused by kidney failure)
• High potassium levels
• Bradycardia (slow heart rate) and ventricular arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats)

Skin contact with Roundup can cause irritation, dermatitis, and severe burns, though these are rare. Inhaling the product can cause oral or nasal discomfort, tingling, and throat irritation, while eye exposure can cause mild conjunctivitis and possible superficial corneal injury.

What are other health risks of Roundup?

Roundup has been linked with certain diseases. There have been concerns that repeated exposure to Roundup may cause cancer, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and has resulted in thousands of consumers filing lawsuits against the manufacturer, Monsanto, and its parent company, Bayer.

Roundup has been declared “probably carcinogenic to humans” by a number of major organizations, including the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), by contrast, considers Roundup to likely be non-carcinogenic.

A study by University of Washington researchers found that Roundup and other glyphosate-based weed killers can increase the risk of a cancer diagnosis by 41%.

Plaintiffs in Roundup cancer lawsuits claim that Monsanto knew or should have known of the cancer risks posed by its weed killer based on scientific evidence. Despite this evidence, the company concealed the risks, Roundup lawsuits claim.

Based on the estimated 13,400 Roundup cancer lawsuits pending against Bayer, the company could end up paying $2.2 billion based on analysis by Morningstar analyst Damien Conover, according to CNN. Amid growing potential for liability and decreased trust from shareholders, Bayer is facing huge losses.

Some lawsuits have already resulted in massive jury awards. A jury awarded plaintiff DeWayne J. a whopping $289 million for Roundup allegedly causing DeWayne’s non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The award included $250 million for punitive damages and $39 million for compensatory damages. A judge later reduced the amount to $78.5 million after Monsanto appealed the decision.

Due to the massive losses Bayer has sustained in court, the company has requested a change in venue for future trials. Bayer is arguing that “highly prejudicial coverage” has resulted in massive jury awards.

Bayer and Monsanto continue to maintain that glyphosate is safe and effective despite conflicting opinions from professionals and organizations around the world.

Can I file a Roundup lawsuit?

A growing number of plaintiffs are choosing to pursue litigation against Monsanto and Bayer claiming Roundup cancer and other health complications. If you or someone you love has suffered side effects of Roundup exposure, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these complications, 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 process, especially while dealing with serious health complications or the death of a loved one, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Roundup lawsuit update

Monsanto continues to fight one of the original cases alleging that Roundup is poisonous to humans. According to The Guardian, a man battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma sued Monsanto after learning of a link between cancer and Roundup. A judge reduced the original $80 million jury award in damages by a jury, but the verdict was later reduced.

Monsanto recently tapped the Environmental Protection Agency to fight the remaining $25 million it owes in the case. According to Capital Press, Monsanto argued in court that because the EPA has determined that glyphosate, Roundup’s active ingredient, is not a carcinogen, the verdict in one of the first Roundup lawsuits should be preempted.

However, Law360 reports that the court may not be receptive to Monsanto’s argument. In a hearing, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals noted that the regulation may not protect Monsanto from liability for allegedly failing to warn consumers about the link between Roundup and cancer.

Bayer, Monsanto’s parent company, still faces millions and potentially billions of dollars in liability over lawsuits claiming Roundup causes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Juries in three lawsuits recently ruled in favor of plaintiffs who alleged a link between the weed killer and cancer, awarding them millions of dollars in damages.

Additionally, Bayer dropped out of a $10.1 billion agreement that would have settled thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits.