The Popular Weed Killer Roundup (Glyphosate) Linked to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
The popular weed killer Roundup which contains glyphosate had been linked to Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
If you or a loved one has a history of using herbicides and was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, or leukemia, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
What is Glyphosate?
Glyphosate is a chemical agent used for controlling weeds on mass farms and backyards. Monsanto packages and sells the chemical under the brand name “Roundup”.
Exposure to glyphosate has been linked to an increased risk of:
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Myeloma
- Soft tissue carcinoma
- Bone cancer
Glyphosate History
As early as the 1980s, laboratory test on glyphosate showed cellular changes in mice that were consistent with cancer and that should have been considered an early sign of a link between glyphosate and cancer. In fact, in 1985 the EPA determined that glyphosate should be classified as a Class C carcinogen, which means that it recognized a clear link between the chemical agent and cancer.
However, six years later the EPA changed that classification to Class D, meaning that there was a lack of statistical significance as to the link between glyphosate and cancer. The EPA’s reclassification of glyphosate came without warning and befuddled many in the scientific community, as it represented a complete about-face by the regulatory body.
Subsequently, all of the early research from the 1980s that the EPA used to classify glyphosate as a carcinogen was protected by Monsanto under trade secret status and thus became unavailable to doctors, researchers, and the general public.
Later, in 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement claiming that “glyphosate probably causes cancer”, which prompted many nations around the world to limit or ban the use of Roundup within their borders.
Currently, several countries around the world either completely ban or have placed significant restrictions on the sale and use of Roundup products. These countries include France, Malta, the Netherlands, Russia, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Mexico, Belgium, and Italy. Furthermore, the European Union is discussing whether it should ban the use of the product in all of its member states.
Roundup Lawsuits
Today, more than 700 lawsuits have been filed against Monsanto in the United States for cancer caused by Roundup products. These lawsuits argue that Monsanto was aware of the dangerous side effects if glyphosate, but swayed regulatory agencies such as the EPA to change their official position on glyphosate based on misinformation.
Though Monsanto stands by its claims that it has done nothing wrong and that links between Roundup and cancer and/or any other health conditions are false, recently released documents from these lawsuits have revealed that Monsanto made a concerted effort to spin glyphosate research results in order to hide the danger that exposure to glyphosate posed to the general public.
Furthermore, these newly released documents, which include internal emails, reveal that executives from Monsanto colluded with certain government agencies to conceal the link between Roundup and cancers such as Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Contact an Experienced Product Liability Attorney
More than 250 million pounds of Roundup are used per year in the United States.
If you have used Roundup products and developed cancer you may be eligible for compensation. Contact an experienced product liability attorney for a free consultation and to find out if you qualify.
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