Have You Been Injured by Round-Up Weed Killer?
Posted November 6th, 2019 by Anthony Carbone.
Categories: Attorney Anthony Carbone, Legal Topics, Personal Injury.
If you’ve ever walked on grass or eaten a piece of produce, there’s a better than average chance that you’ve come in contact with Roundup Weed Killer. The Bayer (formerly Monsanto) product is the most popular herbicide in the world and is used by commercial farmers, agricultural companies, and everyday residential gardeners, alike. It has also become one of the most controversial and heavily litigated products in legal history.
Thousands of people have filed nearly 18,000 US lawsuits asserting that Roundup increases the risk of cancer and health other issues. Thus far, Roundup maker Bayer, who recently acquired Monsanto has lost every lawsuit they’ve faced. In one recent landmark verdict, a jury awarded the plaintiffs $2 billion, although this figure was eventually cut to $86 million. Last year, a single-plaintiff case resulted in a $289 million verdict.
The Science Behind the Scrutiny
There is an established and growing body of research to indicate that Roundup’s active ingredient glyphosate increases the likelihood of cancer. Notably, a comprehensive study from the University of California, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and the University of Washington suggests that glyphosate can increase the risk of cancer by 41 percent, specifically non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a cancer of the immune system.
There have been many claims by individuals that their cancer was caused by glyphosate. These claims come from people from all walks of life, including:
- agricultural workers
- Gardeners
- Farmers
- Consumers
What Does the “Protection” Mean in EPA?
In the meantime, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has come under increased scrutiny for trying to aid Bayer in covering up Roundup’s cancer-causing potential. Records unearthed during one of the aforementioned cases show communications between the agency and the company illustrating a “cozy” relationship, which resulted in the delaying and soft-peddling of crucial health data.
In 2017, one EPA official was implicated in over 20 lawsuits when it came to light that he deliberately squashed close scrutiny into the health risks of glyphosate. The official even boasted that he “deserved a medal” for his work in stopping an investigation of glyphosate by a separate office, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, that is part of the U.S. Health and Human Service Department.
There have been other reports of inappropriate EPA intervention that don’t pass the smell test, as well. Bayer is widely known to have significant influence in Washington.
Could Round-Up Weed Killer be the Source of Your Medical Issues?
You may wonder just how much exposure could actually cause you to get sick in the first place. If you live in an urban area like Jersey City or anywhere in Hudson County, the risk factor might seem scarce. After all, you could be just an average homeowner who just wants a pretty lawn without weeds popping up in the grass.
Of course, if you’re a landscaper, there’s a bigger chance that you had increased exposure. Or, if you worked as a groundskeeper for a school or a corporation, using Round-Up may have been part of your daily work duties.
Who in the world would have thought that simple gardening could create such problems? The truth is that something designed to kill weeds – may put your life at risk.
We’re in Your Corner to Help You
If you’ve used Round-Up and have been diagnosed with non-Hodgins lymphoma, you’ll want to determine if it’s the source of your illness. We will work with you to determine if you have a claim.
The Law Offices of Anthony Carbone has represented injury victims for over three decades. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
