South Carolina Trial Attorneys Protecting Clients with Cancer After Exposure to Roundup Herbicide

What you should know about the connection between Roundup and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Individuals who have used and been exposed to Roundup for many years are contracting non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, despite Monsanto’s insistence that their product is safe for people and pets. Some of those who have been diagnosed with cancer after long exposure to Roundup are suing Monsanto in product liability lawsuits for failure to adequately warn consumers of the dangers associated with using their products.

At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, our South Carolina trial attorneys are here to protect your rights to fair compensation when you have suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence. Our team has handled some of the most complex environmental and toxic tort cases in the country, and we won’t back down from going against a company as big and as influential as Monsanto. We are here to be your strong advocate and to fight for justice on your behalf when your rights have been violated by a corporation that markets a dangerous product without warning the public about the dangers associated with using it.

What is Roundup?

Roundup is a liquid weed-killing herbicide used in commercial farming operations to kill weeds in food crops and in commercial and residential settings to combat the weeds that threaten garden plants and shrubs.

The active ingredient in Roundup is a chemical called glyphosate, which is a herbicide that kills weeds without damaging crops. Newsweek magazine reported on a study published in Environmental Sciences Europe that said Americans have applied 1.8 million tons of glyphosate since it was introduced in 1974, making it the most heavily-used agriculture chemical in the history of the world.

Is there a link between exposure to Roundup herbicide and cancer?

While Monsanto insists that the product is safe for humans and pets, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Newsweek also reports that the Centre for Research on Globalization has shown that glyphosate is an endocrine disruptor, which is a substance that interferes with the healthy function and production of hormones in the body. The study does not make it clear what kind of impact glyphosate has on cancer rates.

Symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

The American Cancer Society describes the following symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which is a cancer that begins in the white blood cells, called lymphocytes, which play an important role in the body’s immune system.

• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Fever
• Sweating and chills
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Swollen abdomen
• Feeling full after only a small amount of food
• Chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath or cough

Given that there are several different types of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which can form in different parts of the body, the symptoms that each person manifests will be different depending on the type of Lymphoma it is. If left untreated, NHL can spread to other parts of the body such as the liver, brain or bone marrow. Large B-cell Lymphoma is most commonly associated with glyphosate exposure.

(American Cancer Society)

The major Roundup cancer study, which was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Occupational Exposure to Agricultural Pesticide Chemical Groups and Active Ingredients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” includes a meta-analyses of about 30 years of research into the link between non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and exposure to chemicals used in commercial agriculture. The study concluded that exposure to glyphosate doubled a person’s risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Who is at risk for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma from exposure to Roundup?

Those at risk include individuals who work in agriculture, garden center and nursery, and commercial landscaping jobs, as well as non-occupational users, who have had exposure to Roundup on a consistent basis for anywhere from two weeks per year for two years or more. A person might also be exposed to glyphosate from breathing in the spray while working with the product, or even through drinking water or eating food that was contaminated with the chemical.

People who have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after exposure to Roundup are filing lawsuits against Monsanto for its deceptive labeling practices that led consumers to believe that the product was harmless and safe for humans and pets.

Roundup exposure non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma lawsuits

The South Carolina product defect attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, are adept at handling complicated environmental tort and consumer protection cases throughout the country. We protect our clients’ right to fair compensation when they have been injured by dangerous and defective products. We understand your frustrations and we fight for justice on behalf of our clients. We encourage you to call 803-327-7800, or fill out our contact form, to schedule your free initial consultation at one of our offices located throughout South Carolina and in North Carolina. We accept injury cases on contingency, so you do not pay any attorney fees until we win compensation for you.