A California jury recently awarded a man with $289 million after deciding that his diagnosis of cancer is linked to years of using 
the weed-killing product “Roundup.” The school groundskeeper, Dewayne Johnson, is predicted to have only several more years to live as he developed non-Hodgkin Lymphoma potentially as a result of many years using the product Roundup as part of his duties to care for school grounds.
According to Johnson’s lawyers, the jurors found that Monsanto knew for years that the chemical glyphosate and Roundup could cause cancer, but chose not to warn users of the risk, therefore proving that their interests were only on making profits and not on consumer safety. For his pain, suffering, and medical bills, the jury awarded Johnson $39 million and handed Monsanto a penalty of $250 million in punitive damages. Monsanto also faces thousands of similar lawsuits across the country.
How can Roundup be Harmful?
The main chemical in the weed-killer, which is made by chemical giant, Monsanto, is glyphosate, which the World Health Organization labeled a cancer risk in their International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2015. The organization placed glyphosate in a category of risk one level below harmful activities such as smoking. The potential risk involved with using Roundup comes from inhaling the product during spraying or mixing it. The product can also cause chemical burns during use.
Individuals at Risk
Gardeners, groundskeepers, landscapers, farmers or anyone who is in a position to handle the upkeep of crops or landscapes can be at risk if they have used the product for many years.
Additional Issues with Roundup
Independent lab tests have also found doses of the weed-killing poison in oat cereals, oatmeal, granola, and snack bars, which if consumed in large quantities may also result in illness.
Because of the complexity of this issue and the major institutions involved, it’s important to contact an attorney if you feel that you may be the victim of an illness caused by a product containing glyphosate. Your attorney can help you understand the legal matter at hand and if you may be able to receive financial compensation for your injury or illness.
References:
Brodwin, E. (2018, August 15). A common weed-killer chemical is at the heart of a $289 million cancer lawsuit against Monsanto. Here’s how worried you should be. Retrieved from https://businessinsider.com/what-is-glyphosate-monsanto-cancer-roundup-lawsuit-2018-8
(2018, August 11). Monsanto Ordered to Pay $289 Million in Roundup Cancer Trial. Retrieved from https://nytimes.com/2018/08/10/business/monsanto-roundup-cancer-trial.html
CBS News. (2018, August 15). Weed-killing chemical linked to cancer found in some children’s breakfast foods. Retrieved from https://cbsnews.com/news/glyphosate-roundup-chemical-found-in-childrens-breakfast-foods/
