If you have been repeatedly exposed to a weed killing product that contains a chemical called glyphosate and are suffering from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or another type of cancer, you may be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit to help compensate for your medical bills. The Kentucky law office of Meinhart, Smith & Manning, PPLC can help determine if there is a link between your cancer and Roundup (glyphosate).
Gardeners, landscape maintenance workers, homeowners, anyone attempting to eradicate their yard of weeds, may use Roundup. It’s the most popular weed killer available for purchase. The active ingredient in the product is an herbicide called glyphosate. Monsanto developed the chemical and they introduced it to the marketplace in 1974.
Monsanto, the company that makes the herbicide Roundup is the focus of many lawsuits. The lawsuits claim they failed to warn users that the glyphosate in their product may be a carcinogen. It is also alleged that they purposely covered up test results and attempted to discredit the studies that showed glyphosate causes cancer.
The Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health published a paper in April 2014 titled “Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Occupational Exposure to Agricultural Pesticide Chemical Groups and Active Ingredients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” The paper reviewed selected world-wide research spanning three decades. The study was limited to occupational exposure and concluded that there may be a causal relationship between Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and the use of glyphosate herbicide in an occupational setting.
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) completed a study that concluded a probable causal relationship between the use of glyphosate and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. The agency has several classifications for chemicals:
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup product, was classified as Group 2A. The patent Monsanto held on glyphosate expired in the year 2000. This means that many other companies located around the world now manufacture the chemical, as well. This increases the amount of glyphosate available and the human exposure to the chemical.
A study conducted by the United States Geological Survey revealed that glyphosate is found in United States sources of water such as: streams, rivers, and rain. It is also present in food. The main danger, however, is to those people who work in agricultural or landscaping industries where Roundup is routinely used for weed killing.
Farmers lead an active life and, as such, generally enjoy health that is considered above-average. Recently, farmers with exposure to glyphosate are seeing an ever-increasing rate of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Farmers and other agricultural workers who regularly use Roundup and have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma have been filing lawsuits against Monsanto.
Anyone who has been repeatedly exposed to Roundup or other products containing glyphosate may be at risk. This includes:
People who have been diagnosed with a cancer that may be linked to glyphosate need to speak to a Louisville product liability attorney right away. It can be difficult to prove the causal link between a chemical and a person’s cancer diagnosis. Experienced product liability attorneys know how to navigate the legal and medical systems to investigate properly and prove the claim.
Talking to an attorney experienced with product liability claims will give you the insight needed to determine if you have a case. The Louisville injury lawyers at Meinhart & Manning, PLLC have helped their clients win millions of dollars in compensation for injuries. We are available around the clock to help you. Call today to schedule a free, non-committal consultation. If you decide to work with us, we’ll fight on your behalf on a contingency fee basis, meaning no out-of-pocket costs and no attorney fees unless you win.