The agricultural giant Monsanto has been embroiled in controversy over an alleged link between glyphosate and cancer for years, but the company claims that its popular weedkiller’s active ingredient has not proven a conclusive link.

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer found in 2015 that glyphosate was a “probable carcinogen”—that is, a substance probably capable of causing cancer. According to Monsanto, the IARC cherry picked studies in order to reach the conclusion that glyphosate and cancer are linked, and that other agencies had found that the chemical was not dangerous.

However, an agricultural economist recently testified in a California jury trial that the IARC’s study was based in sound science, not cherry picking.

The agricultural expert, Charles Benbrook, told the jury that the IARC based its findings off of peer-review studies. By contrast, regulatory agencies base their findings largely off of studies conducted by the registrant itself—in this case, Monsanto. Benbrook argues that the 17 scientists involved in reaching the IARC’s finding were more objective, as they did not have financial ties to the outcome of the studies.

“They had no dog in the fight,” Benbrook said. “They were a group of scientists.”

Benbrook testified during a Roundup trial over the alleged link between glyphosate and cancer. The Roundup lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Dewayne Johnson, who sued the agricultural giant back in 2016, alleging the company knew of the major health risks from a link between glyphosate and cancer.

Indeed, Johnson alleged that Monsanto knew of this concerning link since at least the 1990s, when studies first began to show a correlation between Roundup and lymphoma. Despite this knowledge, Johnson claims, the company continued to market its product as safe, and did not put a warning label on its products.

Johnson worked as a groundskeeper in the Bay Area. Unfortunately, he suffered from an accident that left him covered in the herbicide product. He was eventually diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer.

The Monsanto Roundup trial ended in mid-August with a jury verdict in Johnson’s favor, granting him a $289 million award.

Farm workers and home gardeners are among the most at risk of any Roundup side effects, given the common use of the product in these roles. A number of farm workers and home gardeners have filed lawsuits against Monsanto with allegations of Roundup cancer, claiming that they were diagnosed with one of several kinds of cancer after using Roundup.

Types of cancer that have so far been linked with the weedkiller include the following:

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Leukemia
• Multiple Myeloma
• B-cell Lymphoma
• Bone Cancer
• Renal Cell Carcinoma (kidney cancer)
• Other Cancers

Filing a Glyphosate and Cancer Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer from Roundup use, you may be able to file a glyphosate and cancer lawsuit. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by Roundup cancer or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.

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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