Weeds Weren’t the Only Thing It Was Killing…
by November 30, 2022
Roundup is a herbicide that contains the active ingredient glyphosate, which was developed by Monsanto in the 1970s. The herbicide quickly gained popularity among farmers and homeowners for its effectiveness in killing weeds. However, in recent years, Roundup has become the subject of controversy due to claims that exposure to glyphosate may cause cancer.
In 2018, Bayer acquired Monsanto and, along with it, inherited the legal issues surrounding Roundup. Since then, Bayer has faced thousands of lawsuits from individuals who claim that exposure to Roundup caused them to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other forms of cancer.
The timeline of the Roundup lawsuits begins in 2015 when the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization (WHO), classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen. This classification was based on studies that suggested a possible link between glyphosate and cancer, specifically non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Following the IARC’s classification, numerous lawsuits were filed against Monsanto, the original developer and manufacturer of Roundup. In 2018, a California jury awarded $289 million in damages to a school groundskeeper who claimed that his use of Roundup caused him to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The verdict was later reduced to $78 million on appeal, but the case set a precedent for the thousands of lawsuits that would follow.
In 2019, Bayer faced three separate trials, and all three juries found that Roundup was a significant factor in causing the plaintiffs’ cancers. The verdicts totaled over $2 billion in damages, although they were later reduced to around $190 million. Bayer has continued to face additional lawsuits, and as of February 2023, over 100,000 cases have been filed against the company.
The plaintiffs in these lawsuits have asserted that Monsanto knew or should have known about the potential risks associated with Roundup but failed to adequately warn consumers and regulators. They claim that Monsanto conducted biased and flawed studies that downplayed the risks of glyphosate and that the company influenced regulatory agencies to overlook potential health risks.
In 2020, Bayer announced a settlement of over $10 billion to resolve most of the Roundup lawsuits. The settlement includes a provision to set up a scientific panel to study the link between glyphosate and cancer. However, some plaintiffs’ lawyers have refused the settlement, stating that it does not adequately compensate those who have suffered from cancer due to Roundup exposure.
Have you used Roundup in the past and believe you suffered health consequences?
