WHO Report Concludes Glyphosate, Roundup Potentially Carcinogenic to Humans

The World Health Organization (WHO) published a final report in March 2015 indicating that the commonly used herbicide glyphosate, packaged and marketed under the retail label Roundup, is a probable human carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which performed the assessment, based its conclusion on opinions from 17 different experts hailing from 11 countries. The group met in Lyon, France to discuss the chemical’s potential dangers, in addition to five other organophosphate-based pesticides.

In its report, IARC also noted that the product garnered roughly $6 billion in annual sales. The chemical was first developed and marketed by major agricultural chemical maker Monsanto in the 1970s.

Today, roughly 80 percent of all genetically modified crops are engineered to be resistant to glyphosate, allowing producers to spray a hearty dose of the herbicide on the crops to kill other weeds that may affect crop health and yields. Some sources suggest that between 1996 and 2011, the planting of Roundup Ready crops increased, correlating to the use of roughly 527 million pounds of herbicides in the U.S. The product is also commonly used in private lawn maintenance and home gardening.

A variety of health conditions have been associated with exposure to glyphosate, including ADHD, alzheimer’s, autism, brain cancer, breast cancer, gluten intolerance, celiac disease, chronic kidney disease, depression, colitis, diabetes, heart disease, hypothyroidism, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (commonly referred to as Leaky Gut Syndrome), liver disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Exposure during pregnancy has also been associated with the development of birth defects, infertility, miscarriages, and stillbirth.

All product manufacturers have a duty to use reasonable care when developing and manufacturing products for the general public to use. This includes chemical manufacturers like Monsanto. To recover compensation from a chemical manufacturer based on a negligence theory, the plaintiff must show that the defendant failed to act with reasonable care in developing and marketing the product and that this failure was the cause of the plaintiff’s damages. A plaintiff may also seek damages based on a strict product liability theory. This approach does not require the plaintiff to establish a lack of reasonable care. Instead, the plaintiff will be entitled to recovery if he or she can show that the product was unreasonably dangerous as designed or manufactured, or that the defendant failed to provide reasonable warnings and instructions regarding the product.

If you believe that you or someone you love has suffered harm as a result of exposure to glyphosate, you may be entitled to compensation. Currently, Moll Law Group is accepting cases involving the development of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL) resulting from glyphosate exposure, including subcases. Our dedicated and seasoned toxic tort lawyers understand the scientific complexities of this type of action and are not afraid to go up against a big company. We can guide you and your family through each step of the litigation and ensure that you receive the personalized legal counsel that you deserve. Proudly serving clients throughout the United States, including in California, Florida, Texas, Illinois, and New York, we offer a free consultation to help you learn about your options. Call us at 312-462-1700 or contact us online.

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