What are the side effects of Roundup?

A wide range of consumers use Roundup and other weed killers in a variety of settings — ranging from large nurseries to small suburban lawns — to kill unwanted weeds and plants.

However, Roundup maker Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) has faced Roundup cancer lawsuits because, after years of using the herbicide, users have developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma or other cancers, which were allegedly caused by the weedkiller.

Between 1996 to 2011, the use of Roundup increased by 527 million pounds with Monsanto reportedly marketing the weedkiller as “environmentally friendly” and “biodegradable,” according to EcoWatch.

This has produced a false sense of security around the weedkiller, with many using it on school playgrounds, lawns, and gardens, even while the herbicide has become widely associated with cancer and other serious side effects of Roundup.

What is Roundup?

Roundup is one of the most popular weed killers in America and contains glyphosate as its main ingredient, according to Healthline. Glyphosate is a selective herbicide that attacks plant life with certain enzymes, primarily found in weeds, and kills off unwanted plant life while allowing desired crops to grow.

It is manufactured by Monsanto and has been on the market since 1974, but it has been alleged that the company has known about Roundup’s alleged side effects for over 20 years. Some lawsuits claim that Monsanto failed to disclose important information about Roundup, which led to serious injury.

What are the side effects of Roundup?

While glyphosate is an effective agent against weeds, it has been linked to numerous side effects and complications in humans, including cancer. EcoWatch details that some of the chronic conditions that have been linked to glyphosate include:

• Alzheimer’s disease: According to lab studies, glyphosate could cause neural cell death associated with this degenerative disease.
• Birth defects: According to studies in Paraguay and the United States, infants and children in agricultural areas where glyphosate is used may be at higher risk of developing birth defects including cardiac abnormalities and deformities.
• Cancer: A survey of residents in Argentina repeatedly exposed to Roundup exhibited cancer rates reportedly “two to four times higher than the national average.”

Other serious side effects of Roundup may include:

• Colitis
• Heart disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Leaky Gut Syndrome)
• Liver disease
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Reproductive problems
• Respiratory illnesses

Is Roundup carcinogenic?

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) stated that glyphosate and certain other weed killers could be carcinogenic in a 2015 report. The IARC had also linked four other pesticides with cancer, with a correlation of reports coming from the United States, Canada, and Sweden.

One of these studies was from Canada, and was published in November 2001 by the American Association for Cancer Research. This study found that “men exposed to glyphosate were developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after being exposed to the chemical for under 10 years.”

It is important to note that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had suspected a link since the 1980s.

Does Roundup’s label include a California Proposition 65 warning?

Proposition 65 is a referendum passed by California in 1986 to ensure residents see warning labels regarding increased cancer risks or birth defects on products found to be linked to such dangers.

Glyphosate was added to Proposition 65’s list of potential cancer-causing agents in 2015 by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. The state’s scientists studied glyphosate’s toxic effects on the human body, which helped them determine that anything more than 1,100 micrograms per day of exposure could be detrimental. This number was based upon a WHO study that saw a link between Roundup use and the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Even though Proposition 65 would have required Bayer to add warning labels regarding an increased risk of cancer on all of its glyphosate-based products before they could reach California’s shelves, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prevented the new labeling requirements from going into effect.

The EPA regulators said they looked at a number of studies in addition to the WHO study, which caused the EPA to decide glyphosate was “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.” As a result, the EPA said any warnings related to Proposition 65 that indicated side effects of Round could include cancer would be considered “false and misleading.”

Sheldon Krimsky, an environmental planning professor at Tufts University, wrote in 2019 about the questionable safety of glyphosate, saying in part, “Determining the safety of a chemical has become a politicized activity… After 40 years in use, public health officials are asking for independent toxicological studies on the health effects of glyphosate-based herbicides. This fact alone underscores the failure of the ‘approve first, test later’ principle of regulation.”

How do I get exposed to Roundup?

Roundup exposure typically occurs in three ways:

• Breathing in glyphosate through mouth or nose
• Eating food treated or tainted with glyphosate
• Skin absorption

The people who are the most at risk for Roundup exposure:

• Professional gardeners
• Landscapers
• Farmers
• Agricultural workers
• Herbicide applicators
• Groundskeepers

Filing a Roundup cancer lawsuit

Some Roundup cancer lawsuits have led to significant settlements. In a recent class action, Monsanto may owe at least $23 million to consumers — and up to $45 million — if the settlement agreement is approved in California court.

Monsanto continues to challenge settlement awards, fearing the precedent it might set for the slew of litigation it faces.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer after exposure to Roundup, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by a cancer diagnosis, 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 prospect, especially on top of a recent cancer diagnosis, 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.