Sullo & Sullo has represented over 275,000 clients since the year 2000.
Roundup weed killer contains glyphosate as its active ingredient—although there are other potentially dangerous ingredients in Roundup as well. Many other countries have been quicker to ban glyphosate than the United States, despite the fact that Monsanto, the manufacturer of Roundup, continues to maintain the weed killer is safe. Although farmers have used glyphosate-based herbicides for more than three decades, in 2015 the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) came to the conclusion that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic.” While environmental activists have claimed that Roundup exposure is linked to everything from cancer to autism to celiac disease, while Monsanto insists the pesticide is not a danger to human beings.
How Much Roundup is Used Throughout the World? Since an estimated 1.6 billion gallons of Roundup were applied across the globe over the past ten years, it is essential to understand the risks to farmers, consumers, and the environment. Glyphosate has been marketed for more than four decades as having no effect on animals. The theory is that since glyphosate specifically inhibits an enzymatic pathway required for protein synthesis, which is unique to plants, the herbicide could not harm animals—or, by extension, humans.
Some Scientists Believe Glyphosate Has Toxic Effects on Humans and Animals - Deborah Kurrasch, a neuroscientist at the University of Calgary, believes that not only can glyphosate potentially cause certain types of cancers, it could also have other toxic effects. There is some evidence that glyphosate can affect the mitochondrial functions in humans; Kurrasch and her colleagues exposed zebrafish embryos to relatively low levels of glyphosate during specific windows of development. Mitochondrial function was altered, causing a related decrease in respiration. Sperm motility was also adversely affected in the zebrafish, and neurotransmitter activity was altered in the brains of rats exposed to glyphosate.
Roundup vs. Glyphosate - It is important to note that glyphosate is rarely used on its own---herbicide formulas, including Roundup, include a variety of chemicals. Because of this, Kurrasch compared the effects of Roundup vs. the effects of glyphosate alone (using the same concentration of glyphosate in each). The results of this test were confusing—in some instances it Kurrasch noted that Roundup had different effects than glyphosate alone. However, since manufacturers of herbicides are not required to make the full list of ingredients public, it is extremely difficult for a toxicologist to determine what ingredient is contributing to the toxicity of the formula.
Neurodegenerative Diseases Caused by Roundup? Next, nematode worms were soaked in glyphosate-based herbicides; oxidative stress and mitochondrial inhibition resulted. The worms also showed neurodegeneration at concentrations at which occupational agricultural workers would routinely be exposed to. While it is not definitive that glyphosate-based compounds would cause neurodegenerative disease, it could certainly be a risk factor, particularly for those predisposed genetically to develop a neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinson’s disease. A 2016 study determined that glyphosate could bind to toxic metals, resulting in a combined compound which could potentially be more toxic than glyphosate alone.
At this point, the links between Roundup and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma depend on which study you believe, however one Agricultural Health Study which included more than 90,000 farmworkers and their spouses, found an association between Roundup and acute myeloid leukemia. Animal studies have demonstrated a link between glyphosate and cancerous tumors, and laboratory studies show glyphosate has a damaging effect on DNA, leading scientists to believe Roundup can damage DNA in human cells upon exposure. A French court cited several scientific health studies when it enacted a ban of Monsanto’s Roundup Pro 360, and French politicians have also taken steps to reduce the levels of glyphosate used in the country.
Monsanto and Bayer Lose First Three Roundup Trials - At this point, two state court juries and one federal court jury found in favor of the plaintiffs against Monsanto and its parent corporation, Bayer. To date, Bayer and Monsanto have been ordered to pay almost $2.2 billion in damages for three trial verdicts. Bayer and Monsanto have filed appeals yet many more lawsuits are underway. Following the third American verdict in May, a lawsuit was filed against Monsanto and Bayer by an Australian plaintiff—the first in that country.
Dangers of Roundup Ingestion - At its most basic level, Roundup herbicide with glyphosate can cause serious skin irritations, and if the spray enters the nose, mouth, or eyes, the effects could be much more severe. If Roundup “drift” is accidentally ingested, burns to the mouth, throat, and esophagus could occur, as well as permanent liver damage, and even death. A variety of claims have linked Roundup and glyphosate to conditions such as diabetes, autism, depression, heart disease, and cancers, however, more studies must be done to confirm these claims. Animal studies have suggested that while glyphosate exposure for a pregnant woman may not lead to birth defects, birth defects could manifest in grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Roundup Lawsuits Claim Cancer - The lawsuits against Monsanto and Bayer have claimed the herbicide causes Roundup non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma, follicular B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, b-cell lymphoma and certain other types of cancers. Monsanto is currently facing some 13,400 Roundup lawsuits; the plaintiffs claim Monsanto was aware of the dangers of glyphosate and failed to properly warn consumers. Unsealed documents and emails introduced in the last lawsuit suggested Monsanto had ghostwritten several scientific studies to ensure glyphosate was found to be safe—a claim the company denies.
How an Experienced Monsanto Roundup Attorney Can Help with a Roundup Lawsuit - If you or a loved one has suffered injuries such as Roundup cancer or Roundup non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, you likely have many questions regarding Roundup—Is Roundup safe? How does Roundup work? Does Roundup cause cancer? All these questions and more can be answered by an experienced Sullo & Sullo Roundup lawyer. You may be entitled to take part in a Roundup class action lawsuit or another type of Monsanto Roundup lawsuit. Glyphosate cancer can be very serious, affecting your health, your ability to work, and your future. If the glyphosate dangers contributed to your illness, we can help. Contact Sullo & Sullo today for a comprehensive evaluation of your potential Monsanto Roundup cancer claim.