Major lawsuit in California alleging cancer caused by Roundup

Many chemical products in the United States do not receive adequate long-term testing before becoming publicly available. Basic safety testing often only looks at the short-term health impacts of new products and chemicals. Years later, it may become obvious that these new products actually pose significant public health risks. The popular plant-killing chemical called Roundup, also known as glyphosate, is one such product.

For a long time, the company that created the compound, Monsanto, has maintained that it is safe for use on crops and for exposure in humans. However, an increasing number of cases link the popular weed-killing chemicals to serious cancers in humans. For those who have developed these cancers with no other explanation, it may be possible to hold the manufacturer liable for the dangers caused by this veggie herbicide.

San Francisco lawsuit highlights risks to those who work with Roundup

On Monday July 9, 2018, a major court case in San Francisco began. A groundskeeper who has worked in the area for years is suing Monsanto because of his Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis. He and his attorneys claim that he used both Roundup and a similar product called Ranger Pro routinely as part of his job controlling pests in a local school district.

He would often use a 50 gallon tank to spray large quantities of the product. Many times, when there was wind, it would end up on his face. Once, after a broken hose, his whole body ended up soaked in the compound. After that incident, he read the label and contacted the company because he developed a rash. He was never warned that it might cause cancer.

He was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 42. The cancer in his case is aggressive and most likely will prove to be fatal. The victim is now seeking compensation for Monsanto to offset his medical costs and the impact it will have on his life and his family.

Monsanto still insists that Roundup is safe

In traditional corporate fashion, Monsanto absolutely refuses to acknowledge the potential that Roundup caused harm to anyone. Even when confronted with evidence, companies are often loath to accept responsibility for the impact of their products. Consumers have no choice but to go through the courts to seek compensation.

Currently, Monsanto is still fighting the state of California about a potential label for glyphosate as a cancer-causing agent. Its refusal to properly label the drug may end up helping the court cases of victims like the one currently taking place in San Francisco. There are hundreds of other lawsuits also pending regarding the same topic, and many cancer patients across the country believe that Roundup is responsible for the cancers they are currently fighting.