Parks in the city of Denver are reportedly being treated for weeds with Monsanto Roundup, a product that has sparked thousands of lawsuits.

According to a spokesperson from Denver’s Parks and Recreation, Roundup is sprayed around trees and sidewalks each fall in order to treat invasive pests and maintain the park greenery. The department reportedly says that Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, is safe and effective when used properly.

“[At] Parks and Recreation, we adhere to all the state and federal regulations,” park representative Scott Gilmore told local news station 9 News. “We do use a very diluted solution. We might use it in tree rings and we might use it in cracks in the cement — places where it’s really hard to remove weeds.”

Other groups in the state reportedly take issue with the Parks and Recreation’s opinion on glyphosate. Jonathan Samet, who serves as a professor of epidemiology and dean of the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, says that more research is needed before glyphosate can be labeled as “safe” for groundskeepers to use and the public to come in contact with.

The differing opinions are reportedly complicated by conflicting stances from authorities. In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) determined that glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen. However, national authorities such as the U.S. Environmental Health Agency (EPA) and Health Canada have reportedly determined that the chemical does not cause cancer.

“I think it’s a very complicated decision for those who are deciding whether to use Roundup. Or expose workers to it. Or not.” Samet said. “We know that things that cause cancer usually take a while.”

Monsanto Roundup Hazards

Amid conflicting opinions about the safety of Monsanto Roundup and other glyphosate herbicides, Bayer faces thousands of lawsuits from consumers claiming that the chemical caused their cancer. In 2018, a California jury reportedly ruled in favor of a groundskeeper who claimed that using the chemical resulted in his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that developed from the lymphocytes – white blood cells that function as part of the lymphatic (immune) system. Symptoms of the cancer can vary but many include swollen lymph nodes (in the neck, armpits, or groin), abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, chest pain, coughing, trouble breathing, fatigue, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.

According to Monsanto Roundup lawsuits against Bayer, the chemical can cause non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leaving unsuspecting consumers to fight the life-threatening cancer.

Following the first jury verdict in 2018, several other consumers have been awarded with favorable jury verdicts. In April 2019, Monsanto was ordered to pay an $80 million verdict to a man who reportedly used Roundup on his 56-acre property for around 30 years.

Monsanto and Bayer have appealed all of the decisions against them, which has not always resulted in a reversal but has resulted in decreased awards. For example, a couple was awarded $2 billion in damages for their alleged non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After Bayer appealed the award, a California state judge said $250 million would be more reasonable.

If you or a loved one developed cancer after using Roundup as a farm worker or home gardener, you may have a legal claim. Legal migrant farm workers may also seek help. Learn more by filling out the form on this page for a FREE case evaluation.

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