Anyone who works with Roundup is at risk of being exposed to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup weedkiller. Significant evidence has been published linking exposure to glyphosate to the development of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other related cancers. Our Roundup cancer lawsuit attorneys at Wool Trial Law, LLC discuss the risks of nursery workers and Roundup exposure in this blog.
Why Do Nursery Workers Need to Be Concerned About Exposure to Roundup?
A groundskeeper in California, DeWayne Johnson, was the first person to be awarded damages in a lawsuit filed against Monsanto (now Bayer), the manufacturer of Roundup. The lawsuit alleged that the groundskeeper applied glyphosate 20 to 30 times a year for three years. He also had two accidents that resulted in him being soaked with glyphosate. After that, he developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Mr. Johnson alleged that the exposure to glyphosate in Roundup caused him to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He said Monsanto knew or should have known about the dangers of glyphosate exposure. The jury agreed with him and awarded him $289 million in economic and non-economic damages.
Nursery workers also have a risk of being exposed to glyphosate. Roundup is one of the most commonly used herbicides in the United States. There is a good chance that nursery workers use Roundup on their plants. As with groundskeepers, employers may not adequately explain the risks of Roundup exposure. Furthermore, if employers and nurseries do not have sufficient safety protocols in place to reduce the risk of exposure to glyphosate, it could increase a nursery worker’s risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma because of Roundup exposure.
What Are the Risks of Nursery Workers Being Exposed to Roundup-Glyphosate?
The IARC of the World Health Organization released a notice in 2015 stating that glyphosate was probably carcinogenic to humans. That means that exposure to glyphosate could increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Since that time, numerous studies and papers have backed up that conclusion. The University of Washington released a study that concluded exposure to glyphosate could increase your risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by 41 percent.
The dispute lies within contradictory opinions that claim glyphosate does not increase cancer risk. Our own EPA found that glyphosate would not likely be carcinogenic to humans. Monsanto/Bayer has relied heavily on that statement to dispute its product causes cancer.
Because of the risk of developing cancer, nursery workers using glyphosate-based products like Roundup need to watch for symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other cancers. Signs that you might have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:
- Swelling or pain in the abdomen
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes in the groin, neck, and armpits
- Chest pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Night sweats
- Coughing
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent fatigue
If a nursery worker notices signs of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or develops any adverse symptoms, they should see their doctor immediately. They need to tell their physician they are a nursery worker who works with Roundup and they have been exposed to glyphosate.
More than 100,000 Roundup lawsuits were filed by victims and family members. Nursery workers should be able to pursue a claim if they were exposed to Roundup and developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or another related cancer.
Call Wool Trial Law, LLC to See if You Qualify to File a Roundup Lawsuit
At Wool Trial Law, LLC, our Roundup cancer lawsuit attorneys will review your situation to advise you if you have a claim for damages. If so, you could receive compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. There are deadlines for filing Roundup claims. Call now to speak with a member of our legal team.