Roundup exposure happens in three ways: breathing Roundup in, eating food treated with Roundup, and absorbing Roundup through the skin. To protect yourself from Roundup exposure, make sure you remove yourself from areas that have recently had treatments with Roundup. Also, do not eat any foods treated with Roundup or eat any foods that include genetically modified foods and wear specific protection if you need to apply Roundup as an herbicide.
Dangers of Roundup
In 1974, Monsanto launched the herbicide Roundup, which contained glyphosate. Glyphosate is now considered by many leading organizations and scientists, such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), to have properties of a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). Monsanto has a long history of developing chemicals toxic to humans.
Ways to Receive Exposure to Roundup
There are three ways to receive Roundup and glyphosate exposure. The following will examine each way and explain how to protect yourself from Roundup in each situation.
Inhalation of Roundup
Anytime Roundup exists in the air through spraying, those around the area can breathe these glyphosate particles in, causing respiratory distress and diseases, and possibly other health issues. The best way to avoid any inhalation of Roundup is to wear a respirator while spraying Roundup and to avoid areas that have recently had Roundup treatments. If you are unable for any reason to wear a respirator while applying Roundup, you should consider wearing at least a mask in order to attempt to avoid the inhalation of as much of these chemicals as possible.
Consumption of Roundup
Because many crops receive Roundup treatments in order to remove unwanted vegetation and weeds, the crops and food also can absorb these chemicals, including glyphosate. It is important to note that Monsanto actually produced specifically genetically modified seeds, which have the ability to survive heavy applications of Roundup. If you seriously want to limit any and all exposure to Roundup in your foods, always check to see if the label of your food includes that it does not contain genetically modified ingredients (GMO).
Skin Exposure
When workers, framers, or those in the agricultural community need to apply Roundup, without proper equipment, much of this chemical can easily land on their skin. The absorption of Roundup into the skin can result in serious medical issues, including non-Hodkin’s lymphoma and other cancers. The best way to avoid skin exposure is to make sure to protect yourself from Roundup in the following ways:
- Wear rubber gloves during use and application of Roundup.
- Wear safety glasses or goggles that include side view protection.
- Wear closed-toed shoes and thick socks.
- Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts.
- Wear a mask during use and application of Roundup.
- Wear a respirator in order to ensure that you do not inhale any Roundup.
- Make sure to inspect all of your gear properly in order to ensure that there are no leaks.
Workers often have a great deal of both respiratory and skin exposure when using and applying Roundup. The best course of action in order to protect yourself from Roundup exposure is to use as many protective mechanisms and safety gear as possible.
High-Risk Occupations and Environments
There are some jobs and environments in which the exposure to Roundup is much greater than that of the normal population. The following are some types of occupations that would have a higher risk of developing different types of neurodegenerative diseases or neurocognitive diseases, as reported in the Archives of Toxicology, from their exposure to Roundup and glyphosate:
- Farmers
- Landscapers
- Professional gardeners
- Agricultural workers
- Groundskeepers
- Professional pesticide and herbicide workers
Consider How a Roundup Lawyer Can Help You with Your Case
If you have had a long history of exposure to Roundup and developed either non-Hodkin lymphoma or any other kind of serious medical disease or condition, your health issue may result from the direct result of Roundup exposure.
If you developed a medical condition or illness as a result of your Roundup exposure, you have the legal right to pursue justice and compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and your lost wages due to your inability to return to work.
Consider visiting with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to learn how a Roundup lawyer can help you pursue justice and understand your legal rights and options. Call us at (800) 794-0444.