The short answer: probably. Three people have successfully sued Bayer for cancer caused by their product, Roundup, which contains glyphosate. However, the Trump Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) refuse to label the controversial weedkiller with so much as a warning.
Although the EPA asserts that “the product does not pose a cancer risk,” the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has found limited evidence linking glyphosate to non-Hodgkin lymphoma in humans, and sufficient evidence that glyphosate causes cancer in animals. Additionally, due to the IARC report, the State of California has classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
The Labeling Battle
California has required warning labels for products containing glyphosate since 2017. In response to this, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said, “we will not allow California’s flawed program to dictate federal policy.” Going one step further, the EPA sent a letter to manufacturers, cautioning Californians that their Proposition 65 warning labels “misbrand” products like Roundup, violate the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and should be removed.
The Legal Battle
Bayer has been served with lawsuits from over 13,000 farmers, landscapers, and gardeners. In early April, Bayer, which recently took over Monsanto, was ordered to pay $80 million to a 70-year-old man with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A groundskeeper with the same cancer of the immune system received a similar verdict last year. Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the United States and Bayer/Monsanto is expected to pay as much as$8 billion to settle more than 18,000 lawsuits related to Roundup.
How Can I Keep Myself Safe?
The bad news is that the Trump Administration seems to be favoring corporations like Bayer/Monsanto over citizens affected by cancer. The good news is that you have read our blog and therefore know the risks of using any product that contains glyphosate. If you or someone you know has already been affected by Roundup, you should absolutely get in touch with one of our attorneys today. Call us at (888) 398-2277 or fill out an online contact form as soon as possible. Consultations are free and you could be entitled to compensation.