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Does Roundup® Cause Cancer?

Does Roundup® Cause Cancer?

Studies link Roundup to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers. Learn more about Roundup risks.

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Case Overview

Studies show that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup®, can cause cancer. Plaintiffs argue Roundup exposure is linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). However, the popular weed killer is still sold and used in the U.S. Manufacturers continue to deny Roundup’s health risks even in the face of thousands of toxic exposure lawsuits.

Key takeaways about Roundup and cancer

  • Studies link Roundup, a widely used weed killer, to the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers.
  • Monsanto and its parent company, Bayer, continue to make, market and sell the weed killers. 
  • If you have Roundup cancer, you have options. Motley Rice may be able to help you take legal action and pursue a claim for compensation. 

What is Roundup?

Roundup contains glyphosate, the most commonly used herbicide in agriculture. 

Monsanto, makers of Roundup, began marketing the weedkiller as a “safe” general-purpose herbicide for widespread commercial and consumer use in 1974. By 2001, glyphosate was the most-used active ingredient in U.S. agriculture. At that time, the U.S. agriculture industry used 85 to 90 million pounds annually.

In 2018, Bayer acquired Monsanto. Monsanto continues to produce and market Roundup for its parent company. Roundup is used residentially and commercially for lawn and garden care, agriculture, and forestry. Because it has been widely used as a weedkiller over several decades, Roundup chemicals are now found in food, soil, water and air worldwide. 

Roundup and glyphosate

Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide, meaning it can kill most weeds. Plants treated with glyphosate transfer the chemical to their shoot region, roots and fruit, causing most plants to die within three days. Because plants absorb the herbicide, detectable traces remain after washing and peeling produce and milling, baking and brewing grains. It also remains in soil and water sources. 

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup by manufacturers Monsanto and Bayer. Roundup generally contains around 40% glyphosate. Exact formulations are commercially confidential and may vary between products. The weed killer also contains the toxic surfactant polyoxyethylene amine (POEA). Surfactants reduce surface tension, allowing liquids to spread more easily.

Research linking Roundup to cancer

Many studies link Roundup’s primary ingredient, glyphosate, to the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), conducted a 2015 glyphosate study. It found that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” IARC associates glyphosate with NHL, specifically. 

According to the University of Washington Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS), exposure to glyphosate can increase the risk of NHL by 41%. 

NHL is a type of blood cancer with more than 60 subtypes, including:

  • Burkitt lymphoma (BL)
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small-cell lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL)
  • Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL)
  • Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
  • Follicular lymphoma (FL)
  • Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma
  • Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
  • Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL)
  • Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS)

Roundup cancer symptoms

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the most commonly named Roundup cancer in lawsuits. NHL is a group of blood cancers that begin developing in the lymphatic system because of abnormal white blood cell growth. NHL can lead to tumors throughout the body, including in the abdomen, brain, skin, spleen and bone marrow.

Symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma may include:

  • Abdominal pain or swelling
  • Chest pain
  • Cough
  • Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
  • Feeling full even when you have not eaten a lot
  • Heavy night sweats
  • Persistent fatigue
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Unexplained fever
  • Unexplained weight loss

Monsanto denies a connection between Roundup and cancer

Regardless of studies showing an association between Roundup lymphoma and glyphosate, Bayer and Monsanto continue to insist weed killers containing the substance are safe. However, plaintiffs argue the manufacturers attempted to conceal the dangers of Roundup for decades. 

  • 1970s: Monsanto hired Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories (IBT Labs) to conduct toxicology studies. A former Monsanto employee named Paul Wright worked at IBT at the time of testing. Wright later returned to work for Monsanto. In 1976, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found discrepancies between the recorded data and the report IBT submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during Wright’s tenure with the lab. The EPA determined that IBT’s glyphosate studies were invalid. Wright was indicted for fraud in 1981 over falsified data. Monsanto paid Wright’s $1.3 million legal fees.
  • 1991: Monsanto hired a second lab implicated in scientific fraud. Monsanto hired Craven Laboratories to conduct testing on herbicides and pesticides, including Roundup. Later that year, the lab’s owner and three of its employees were indicted and later convicted of fraudulent lab practices related to herbicide and pesticide testing. Even though Monsanto knew about the fraudulence and falsity in testing, the company marketed and sold Roundup in 115 countries in the subsequent years.

Plaintiffs argue Monsanto continues to ignore warnings about cancer from weed killers. As Roundup’s profitability has increased, plaintiffs believe Monsanto hasn’t done enough to address warnings from the EPA and the scientific community about Roundup and links to cancer. In 2003, a Roundup employee confirmed that Monsanto had not tested Roundup’s formulation enough to conclude that it didn’t contain carcinogenic or genotoxic ingredients. To this day, neither Monsanto nor Bayer have performed long-term animal testing on Roundup formulations.

Despite Monsanto and Bayer’s denials that Roundup causes cancer, thousands of injured parties claim they have cancer related to glyphosate. The allegations over Roundup cancer have led to thousands of plaintiffs suing the manufacturers. Roundup lawsuits have fueled federal multidistrict litigation (MDL). 

Contact a Roundup exposure attorney

Motley Rice pursues justice for people harmed by negligence and wrongdoing. If you have non-Hodgkin lymphoma caused by Roundup, contact us online or call today at 800.768.4026. We can tell you more about your legal options and how a Roundup exposure lawsuit lawyer with our firm can fight for you. 

Does Roundup cause cancer?

Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, may cause cancer by disrupting bodily functions. NHL results from a mutation in the body’s white blood cells, specifically B lymphocytes (B cells) or T lymphocytes (T cells). The mutations cause tumor growth and a potentially weakened immune system. 

The general public is primarily exposed to Roundup by living near sprayed areas, using it at home and eating contaminated food. Because Roundup use is so pervasive in agriculture, the pesticide has also been found in the air during spraying and in water and soil. Glyphosate can enter the body via accidental ingestion or inhalation and via contact with the skin and eyes.

Exposure to glyphosate through ingestion, inhalation or the skin can cause nose and throat irritation, burns in the mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatal glyphosate poisoning. Studies have connected exposure to glyphosate and Roundup formulations with white blood cell mutations and NHL. 

NHL is a severe and potentially deadly cancer. NHL causes tumor growth and, because it affects the immune system, can cause life-threatening infections, other cancers and heart disease. Annually, around 100,000 people worldwide die from NHL or a subtype of the disease.

Is Roundup still legal?

The use of Roundup is still legal in the U.S. Many other countries have fully or partially banned Roundup and other glyphosate-based pesticides because of health and safety concerns. Countries that restrict or limit glyphosate use include:

  • Austria
  • Colombia
  • Belgium
  • Bermuda
  • European Union Member States
  • France
  • Germany
  • Gulf Coast Council member countries
  • India
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Portugal
  • Sri Lanka
  • Vietnam

After Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018, the manufacturers continued to produce and sell glyphosate products despite the IARC classification of the substance as a probable human carcinogen. Although Bayer introduced a glyphosate-free residential weed killer in 2023, the company currently makes and sells glyphosate-based Roundup in the U.S. for commercial and agricultural purposes.

What do I do if I used Roundup and have cancer?

If you or someone you love has symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, you should see a doctor immediately. Early detection of cancer can be the key to effective treatment. Healthcare providers can diagnose NHL through blood tests, imaging and biopsies. 

Treatment options for NHL include:

  • Bone marrow transplant
  • Chemo
  • Chemo in combination with a stem cell transplant
  • Immunotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Targeted therapy, including monoclonal antibody therapy

Furthermore, if you were exposed to Roundup and developed NHL, you may have legal options. A Roundup exposure attorney with Motley Rice can evaluate your case and determine if you have grounds for a Roundup lawsuit. If so, we can help you pursue compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and more. 

Roundup and legal action

Multiple plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Bayer and Monsanto for cancer caused by Roundup. The suits argue the manufacturers exposed the public to Roundup without disclosing the product’s link to cancer, even though the companies knew about the pesticide's health hazards. 

According to Bayer’s 2023 Financial Report, Monsanto has resolved 113,000 Roundup cancer claims as of January 2024. In 2023, the company announced it would set aside $6.3 billion for glyphosate litigation.

Motley Rice is representing plaintiffs experiencing Roundup-related NHL symptoms. In one such case, the plaintiff was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in June 2016. The suit alleges he developed cancer after decades of regular exposure to Roundup through contact at his residential properties and employment as a utility mechanic. During the exposure period, he did not know that Roundup could endanger your health.

Motley Rice is representing this plaintiff for damages he incurred as a result of his Roundup/glyphosate exposure and development of NHL, including physical, mental, emotional and psychological pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and medical expenses. The case is pending in the Superior Court of New Jersey. 

Our toxic exposure litigation experience

Motley Rice has extensive experience advocating for clients harmed by toxic exposure and environmental damage. We have handled pesticide exposure lawsuits involving Roundup and other harmful herbicides, including paraquat weed killer. 

Our attorneys also represent clients in mass tort and defective product litigation involving exposure to asbestos, PFAS and other forever chemicals, Camp Lejeune water contamination, lead poisoning and other chemical contamination. As one of the nation’s largest plaintiff litigation firms, we have secured some of the most significant civil settlements in U.S. history. 

If you or a loved one has cancer and used Roundup, we can advocate for you. Contact us online or call 800.768.4026. Our Roundup exposure lawyers can tell you more about pursuing a claim for compensation. 

Read more on our toxic exposure experience.

Key takeaways

What is Roundup?

Research linking Roundup to cancer

Does Roundup cause cancer?

What do I do if I used Roundup and have cancer?

Our toxic exposure litigation experience

About the Author

Sources
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  3. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC Monographs Volume 112: evaluation of five organophosphate insecticides and herbicides.
  4. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. NHL Subtypes.
  5. Liang Z, Wang X, Xie B, Zhu Y, Wu J, Li S, Meng S, Zheng X, Ji A, Xie L. Pesticide exposure and risk of bladder cancer: A meta-analysis. Oncotarget. 2016 Oct 11;7(41). 
  6. Mayo Clinic. Multiple myeloma.
  7. Mayo Clinic. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
  8. Mayo Clinic. Prostate cancer.
  9. National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC). Glyphosate General Fact Sheet
  10. Novotny E. Glyphosate, roundup and the failures of regulatory assessment. Toxics. 2022 Jun 13;10(6):321.
  11. University of Washington Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS). Can Roundup cause cancer? 
  12. Wang, L., Deng, Q., Hu, H. et al. Glyphosate induces benign monoclonal gammopathy and promotes multiple myeloma progression in mice. J Hematol Oncol. 2019 July 5; 12, 70.