Different world organizations have different positions regarding whether Roundup is safe to use in 2020. Their differing opinions relate specifically to the safety of Roundup’s primary ingredient, glyphosate.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as of January 2020, the agency continues to hold that there are no risks to human health if used as product labels suggest. However, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found that glyphosate is a possible carcinogen for humans. Many countries, as well as some areas in the United States, have banned the use of Roundup due to their belief that it is dangerous to humans.
Why Roundup Causes Concern
The reason for the safety considerations with Roundup is because it contains a chemical known as glyphosate. Glyphosate is a chemical used in herbicides since 1974 against unwanted vegetation and weeds. Farmworkers have used glyphosate for decades with success.
However, when the IARC determined in 2015 that glyphosate was a likely carcinogen (cancer-causing agent), many organizations and researchers came forward to confirm its stance regarding the dangers of glyphosate. Along with potentially causing cancer, the journal Archives of Toxicology reported that glyphosate also could impact and change a person’s DNA structure, while another study links glyphosate to liver disease.
Explaining the Differences of Opinion
With such disparate stances on the safety of this popular herbicide, many still wonder if Roundup is safe to use in 2020. The types of research and conclusions appear to be in two separate camps. The first are those studies and research funded by industry-related entities such as Monsanto, which manufactures and distributes Roundup. These studies tend to conclude that glyphosate is harmless to users.
In the other camp are those researchers and scientists that conclude that Roundup is not safe to use in 2020. Independent, neutral parties typically fund these studies, which often are peer-reviewed. The discrepancies between these two very different types of conclusions received notice in the journal Environmental Sciences Europe, which indicated that the conclusions reached in the research related to glyphosate skew to the benefit of who funds the research.
Largest Concern: Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
The most significant concern regarding glyphosate relates to a possible connection with an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in users. Many victims claim that their non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma developed because of their exposure to glyphosate.
Over 52,000 victims have filed lawsuits against Monsanto (acquired in 2018 by Bayer) due to their exposure to Roundup that they claim caused them to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Some of the symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:
- Enlargement of lymph nodes
- Chest pressure and pain
- Shortness of breath
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Night sweats or chills
- Weight loss
If you develop any of these symptoms, consider visiting a medical professional as soon as possible to receive an evaluation and possible treatment.
Other Possible Health Issues Associated with Roundup
Along with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, there are several other kinds of possible health issues associated with the use of Roundup. Some of these health issues include neurodegenerative diseases and conditions, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Other research concludes that exposure to glyphosate and other chemicals in Roundup can cause reproductive harm or even congenital disabilities. Specifically, research in the journal Scientific Reports states that glyphosate could promote adverse effects in future generations, even if it has negligible pathology on current ones.
Some other health conditions or diseases also associated with prolonged Roundup use include:
- Leukemia
- Kidney cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- B-cell lymphoma
- Skin tumors
- Respiratory conditions
Again, if you believe you developed any of these medical conditions, you should seek immediate medical attention to ensure that you receive a proper medical evaluation and treatment.
Consider How a Roundup Lawyer Can Help You with Your Case
Many researchers and scientists believe that Roundup is not safe to use in 2020. If you or someone you love developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or any other medical conditions due to your exposure to Roundup or any weed killer with glyphosate as its main ingredient, consider contacting our legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm.
You have the legal right to pursue justice and file a claim to recover compensation for your injuries if they are ultimately related to your exposure to glyphosate. Call us today at (800) 794-0444 to better understand your legal rights and learn how a Roundup lawyer can help you determine your legal options and fight for the compensation you may be eligible to receive.