In response to the worrisome reports about glyphosate’s possible link to cancer, many U.S. cities have begun looking into alternative methods of protecting their parks and landscaping from invasive plant species and weeds.

U.S. Cities Move Away From Glyphosate Over Cancer Fears

Following several successful lawsuits against Bayer by plaintiffs claiming that the company’s glyphosate weed killer Roundup caused them to develop cancer, many cities are beginning to look into other methods to eradicate weeds and unwanted plants from urban landscaping and parks.

In Seattle, the Parks and Recreation Department discontinued the use of Roundup and other glyphosate weed killers in the city’s parks in fall 2018 due to concerns about the chemical impacting employees’ health. This policy became official on Aug. 23, 2019, when the mayor of Seattle signed an executive order restricting the use of glyphosate by city departments.

Patricia Bakker, the natural resources manager at Seattle’s Parks and Recreation Department, told citylab.com that “the concern was mainly for the people who are applying it.” Due to the way that Roundup is sprayed on weeds, it may easily be ingested or come in contact with skin.

Instead of relying on glyphosate weed killers, Seattle city groundskeepers may instead mow, mulch and use plant-killing fungi to keep weeds in check. Herbicides may also be used by city employees as long as they contain ingredients including triclopyr and imazapyr, rather than glyphosate.

However, as the power of Roundup and other glyphosate herbicides is much stronger than herbicides with different active ingredients, Bakker is skeptical that they will work to eradicate weeds as well as those with glyphosate.

Although landscapers may be skeptical of other products’ abilities to control weeds and invasive plants, according to plant ecologists, these products may be better for native plants, in addition to being a safer option for people. Due to glyphosate’s non-selective herbicide properties, it can kill or damage the good plants as well as the invasive species. Native plants damaged by glyphosate may be unable to compete with hardier species, allowing invasive plants to take over and thrive.

In addition to Seattle, several other U.S. cities have also banned or instituted restrictions regarding the use of glyphosate. San Francisco began to regulate the use of the chemical in 1997. In 2018 and 2019, Portland, Maine, Miami, and Los Angeles County all banned glyphosate. Austin, Texas restricted the use of it, and New York City may ban the chemical in the near future. In 2019, Germany, where Bayer is headquartered, announced that the country will ban glyphosate by the end of 2023.

Despite Cancer Risk, Farmers are Resistant to Stop Using Roundup

Despite the recent multi-million dollar settlements awarded in glyphosate lawsuits, many farmers are resistant to change. Andy B., a farmer who has been using Roundup for 40 years on 5,000 acres of crops including soybeans, corn, and alfalfa spoke to the New York Times. According to Andy, “Roundup is still a fabulous tool.”

The 20,000 pending lawsuits against Bayer over the alleged dangers of glyphosate have not done anything to dissuade Andy and other farmers from using the herbicide. Roundup makes it much easier for farmers to increase their crop yields while also reducing their costs.

Another farmer told the Times that glyphosate has made the industry easier on farmworkers and has also reduced chemical runoff and soil erosion. “We used to till the ground, then plant, then go back and plow at least twice, and then spray a chemical. Now we’re not tilling at all.”

The faith that farmers still have in Bayer and in Roundup is what prompted Bayer to purchase Monsanto, the creator and owner of Roundup, in 2018 for $63 billion. However, multiple court losses and multi-million dollar settlements may be taking their toll on the company. At one point, Bayer’s stock dropped by nearly 40 percent due to the panic surrounding glyphosate.

Glyphosate May Lead to Weed and Crop Resistance

Approximately 90 percent of cotton and corn crops grown in the U.S. are resistant to glyphosate, in addition to about 94 percent of soybean crops. However, crops are not the only plants that have grown stronger and more resistant to the chemical. Many types of weeds and invasive plants have also become glyphosate-resistant, making them stronger and harder to kill.

According to Scott H. Irwin, an Agricultural and Consumer Economics professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, this weed resistance may have more of an impact on changing farmers’ minds than lawsuits and settlements. “In farmers’ minds, the weed-resistant question will determine whether they’re using it or not.”

According to a study published in Pest Management Science in May 2018, 38 weed species in 27 countries have already evolved to be resistant to glyphosate. Glyphosate-resistant weeds are the greatest threat to weed control in crops, due to the general ineffectiveness of other herbicides in comparison to glyphosate, according to the study. And over-reliance on glyphosate may result in multiple weed resistance, making them almost impossible to eradicate. Unless new methods of weed control are developed, even more invasive plant species may develop a resistance to the powerful chemical.

History of Glyphosate and Roundup

Monsanto introduced Roundup in 1974. Since then, it has grown into one of the most commonly used herbicide products in the world. Its active chemical ingredient, glyphosate, is the most widely used herbicide across the globe. An estimated 287 million pounds of glyphosate was sprayed on crops and weeds in the U.S. in 2016.

Roundup was designed to be sprayed on crops and weeds to eliminate invasive or unwanted species. In addition to Roundup, Monsanto also designed crop seeds for soybeans, corn, canola, and other species that were able to withstand the herbicide. In this way, Monsanto was able to corner the agricultural market by owning both the most effective weed killer and the crops that could withstand the chemical.

Glyphosate’s use as a weed killer was patented by Monsanto until 2000, when the patent expired. Noting Roundup’s success, other agricultural companies began to create their own glyphosate herbicides. There are now several hundred herbicides containing the chemical for sale in the U.S. Despite the health concerns associated with it, independent market researchers predict that the market for glyphosate may reach $12 billion by 2024.

In 2015, a branch of the World Health Organization known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) conducted research on glyphosate’s effect on humans. The agency concluded that the chemical was concerning, and officially classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen for humans. In April 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted research on the chemical and came to the conclusion that glyphosate is not harmful to people. This conclusion differs from the IARC’s analysis of glyphosate’s probable carcinogenic properties. As the studies on glyphosate’s effects on people are contradictory and inconclusive, regulatory and governmental bodies are split on whether to ban or restrict it.

Although multiple lawsuits filed against Bayer by plaintiffs claiming that Roundup caused them to develop cancer have resulted in multi-million dollar awards, Bayer still claims that the herbicide is not dangerous for humans. The company has pledged to release studies on the effects of glyphosate to the public and to clarify which independent studies were paid for by entities in the agricultural industry.

Who May Be Affected by Roundup and Glyphosate?

Glyphosate and Roundup are used by people in industries such as landscaping, groundskeeping, park management, and agriculture, as well as by hobby gardeners and homeowners. The chemical herbicide works by preventing plants from producing certain enzymes necessary for growth.

Many environmental organizations believe that glyphosate exposure may cause cancer in humans. It is likely that glyphosate’s effects on humans are built up by years of exposure, as many of the plaintiffs who have filed Roundup cancer lawsuits have been using the chemical for years or decades. Many of these people developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the seventh most common type of cancer, accounting for about 4 percent of U.S. cancer cases. Some 20,000 Americans die from the disease each year.

Signs and symptoms of glyphosate-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma may include swollen lymph nodes in the armpits, groin, or neck, as well as chest pain, coughing, or trouble breathing. They may also experience fatigue, abdominal pain and swelling, fever, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss. Diagnosing non-Hodgkin lymphoma early is important, as the likelihood of death from the condition increases as the cancer develops and spreads.

People who have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and have a history of exposure to Roundup and other glyphosate herbicides may be eligible to hire a qualified attorney and file a class action lawsuit against the weed-killer manufacturer. Roundup cancer plaintiffs may be able to collect compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, injuries, lost wages and loss of future income, and other damages and costs.

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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