Gardeners and landscapers who need to kill weeds and other plants frequently turn to herbicides. One of the major brands used to keep areas free of weeds is Roundup, created by the company Monsanto. 9.4 billion tons of Roundup have been sprayed on fields since its creation. The weed killer is marketed as safe for people to use, but is it really?
Recent lawsuits against Monsanto claim that Roundup causes cancer and other diseases in product users. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer after being exposed to Roundup frequently, you could be eligible to file a Louisville Roundup weed killer lawsuit.
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What is Roundup?
Roundup Weed Killer, the most commonly used weed killer in the United States, has the main ingredient glyphosate. The chemical glyphosate kills broadleaf plants and grasses and keeps plants from producing the proteins they need to grow. This helps farmers and gardeners regulate weed growth in their plots.
This specific herbicide kills all plants it comes into contact with, which makes it more marketable because consumers didn’t have to buy multiple different products to kill specific weeds. But if it can easily kill all types of plants, then it makes sense that it could potentially be harmful to humans. Even though human proteins are different than plant proteins, the glyphosate can affect human proteins as well.
Health Risks of Roundup Exposure
Your body is affected by exposure to Roundup whether you breathe it in, or if it’s contaminated water or food you drink and eat. The more you use this weed killer, the worse your health can be affected. If you’ve used this product from time to time, you might notice these health problems after short term use:
- Eye irritation
- Skin rash
- Nausea
- Sore throat
- Difficulty breathing
- Headaches and dizziness
- Nose bleeds
- Lethargy
After long term use, there are more serious conditions that might arise. It is believed glyphosate could cause cancer in humans. Information in 2015 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer found a positive connection between the chemical and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. There’s the possibility it causes other cancers, too. The study also showed sufficient evidence that glyphosate causes cancer in animals.
Cancers like non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia could be caused by prolonged use of Roundup. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is when cancer develops in the lymph system, which is part of the immune system. Leukemia is cancer that forms in your blood cells and spreads more quickly depending on which type of blood cell it has infected. Both are serious diagnoses and can be debilitating. Some symptoms of both cancers are swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, and fatigue. Make sure to see a doctor if you experience these symptoms after using Roundup over the course of years.
As well as cancer, long-term glyphosate use can create other health risks like:
- Birth defects
- Celiac disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Depression
Cancer is a tough diagnosis for anybody, but it can be especially hard if a product you used caused it without warning. Although the chemicals inside Roundup Weed Killer have been known to cause these serious illnesses, there is no warning label that tells this to buyers. In recent Roundup weed killer cases that have been successfully filed and litigated, it was discovered that Monsanto may have hid the product’s cancer-causing properties by acting friendly with the EPA, so they didn’t have to report the dangers to consumers.
This lack of warning for a potentially-dangerous product means that consumers may be able to file a product liability claim against Monsanto if they experienced long-term exposure to Roundup, have been diagnosed with any of the above conditions, and have suffered as a result. Companies are legally required to warn users about any possible harms of their products. If they do not, they’re legally liable for injuries or harmful conditions that result. If you live in Louisville or elsewhere in Kentucky and have suffered due to Roundup exposure or know someone who has, you could have a case.
Lawsuits Against Monsanto
Cases against Roundup Weed Killer have been filed all across the United States. In fact, there are over 760 lawsuits filed against Monsanto for their negligence. A man in San Francisco was awarded $80 million in his weed killer lawsuit in March 2019. He claims Monsanto’s weed killer caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma after he used it frequently between 1986 and 2012.
If you’re a farmer, landscaper, avid gardener, or anyone else who has used Roundup frequently over the years, then your health could also be in jeopardy from the chemical. After a diagnosis, you could be eligible to file a product liability lawsuit against Monsanto to recover damages for your illness and your pain and suffering.
Thomas Law Offices Will Fight for You
A cancer diagnosis can be scary, especially if it’s been caused by a product you thought to be safe. You’re probably upset with the company for not advertising their product correctly, and you should be. Our Louisville roundup weed killer lawyers can help you hold that company responsible for the damages they caused you. Contact us today so that we can start fighting for your case while you focus on fighting your illness.
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