If you are using the Roundup herbicide regularly, you may worry about getting the chemical glyphosate on your skin during application. Washing the herbicide off your skin with a saline solution can remove the substance, according to Food and Chemical Toxicology. Rinsing the affected area with water immediately can also help to wash some of the chemical off your skin.
Glyphosate is the main ingredient in Roundup, which is one of the most widely used herbicides in the United States, according to the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC).
If you fail to get Roundup off your skin as soon as you notice it is on there, or if it comes into contact with any broken or damaged skin, your body could absorb some of the chemical. This can potentially cause adverse health effects. It may be possible that some of the chemical can enter the body through healthy skin, and repeated exposure to Roundup may cause health problems.
If you use Roundup frequently, you should be extremely careful in handling the herbicide. Wear protective clothing and rinse off any spills on your skin immediately.
Roundup has recently been in the press for being harmful to one’s health, and it has been linked to cancer risks. Studies are still ongoing to establish all the potential health and environmental risks of Roundup.
Roundup and Cancer
Roundup has been used for several decades to keep crop fields, gardens, and yards free of weeds in the U.S. However, it has recently been in the spotlight, particularly in a report from the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In 2015, the IARC labeled glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
While we do not yet know about all the adverse health effects of Roundup, a link between glyphosate and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma has been established, according to Mutation Research. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer of the white blood cells that typically starts in the lymph nodes.
Symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Fatigue
- Swollen abdomen
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent infections
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
It is possible to treat non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplants, and a combination of these treatments. However, any of these cancer treatments can be lengthy as well as costly, resulting in medical bills.
If you have routinely used Roundup for many years, either in your job or at home, and you have any adverse health effects that you think are related to Roundup, you have the option of speaking to a Roundup lawsuit lawyer for advice on whether you can hold the manufacturer or other parties responsible for your damages.
Those Most at Risk From Glyphosate
Roundup was a common substance in agriculture and in everyday gardening and yard care. Some of the people particularly exposed to the herbicide include:
- Farmers
- Agricultural workers
- Groundskeepers
- Landscapers
- Professional gardeners
- Hobby gardeners
Roundup is also widely available, and anyone can buy and use it to keep the weeds around their house and in their yard in check. Therefore, many people have been and are still now exposed daily to the chemical glyphosate. Some individuals are more at risk for prolonged exposure.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 217-6099
Manufacturer Liability Debated
In recent years, several lawsuits have been filed against Roundup manufacturer Monsanto. It is alleged that Monsanto has known about the harmful effects of Roundup for decades, all the while marketing the herbicide as being safer than table salt and nontoxic, according to NBC News.
Even if you take precautions and always manage to get Roundup off your skin by washing after exposure, your skin may have absorbed dangerous and potential cancer-causing chemicals, especially if you have used it regularly.
If you have suffered from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or another cancer or health condition related to Roundup, you could potentially hold the manufacturer accountable by either initiating a personal injury lawsuit or joining in a class-action lawsuit.
Seeking Legal Help for Roundup Exposure
Farmworkers, gardeners, landscapers, or anyone who has used Roundup regularly may have risked dangerous exposure to large amounts of glyphosate over the years, and they could be at increased risk for developing cancers and other diseases.
If you already have cancer and think Roundup or another herbicide containing glyphosate has caused your cancer, contact us if you want legal help. If it is determined that Roundup is responsible for your suffering, you might be able to recover damages such as medical costs and awards for pain and suffering, among others. Our team can advise you on any legal recourse you might have and could help you get justice and compensation.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 217-6099 to speak with one of our team members for a free evaluation of your case.
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