If you used Roundup in the past and are now concerned with reports that its main ingredient glyphosate can cause cancer, you are probably now looking for alternatives to keep your weeds in check.
Roundup and Spectracide are both herbicides and kill weeds on contact. However, the active ingredient in Spectracide is diquat dibromide and not glyphosate. While diquat dibromide can be moderately toxic to humans, it has to date not been shown to cause cancer, according to Cornell University and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The main difference between how Spectracide and Roundup work is that Roundup successfully kills the entire weed including roots while Spectracide, on the other hand, only kills the part of the weed that it touches. Spectracide may be safer than Roundup and it does not persist in soil or water.
If you developed cancer and think this may be due to using Roundup, you should switch to a safer option of weed killer. Researchers from the University of Washington recently established that exposure to glyphosate particularly increases the risk for developing Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. If you suffer from this type of cancer, you could receive compensation.
Removing Weeds Without Chemicals
While there are weed killers on the market that do not contain the harmful glyphosate, no toxic chemical designed to kill plants on contact is probably entirely safe for our environment, pets, and children. If you worry about spraying toxins in your yard and garden, and how these toxins could harm you and your family, you might want to find alternative methods for weeds control.
Manual removal
Weeding by hand is certainly much more effort than spraying a herbicide, but it can be an efficient way to control weeds, if done regularly. For the best effect, you should remove any weeds while they are still small and have not yet had a chance to spread through underground root systems.
Flame or steam weeding
Flame weeding can be an efficient way to control weeds in driveways, between pavers, and in gravel.
Natural products
Some natural products that we all have in our kitchens can help to keep weeds at bay without using strong toxins. A mixture of vinegar, salt, and dish soap, for example, can kill weeds. There may also be some commercially produced weed killers that use natural substances instead of toxins.
Unfortunately, there are times when only a strong herbicide will do the job. If you worry about using glyphosate in particular, you may wish to choose another strong weed killer such as Spectracide, which may be safer than Roundup as it does not contain glyphosate.
Glyphosate Causes Cancer
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), declared glyphosate a probable carcinogenic in 2015. Researchers recently established more links between glyphosate and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma can vary and may include chills, enlarged lymph nodes, fatigue, a swollen abdomen, shortness of breath and easy bruising, among others. If you used Roundup frequently, and recently developed any worrying symptoms, you should visit your medical provider to rule out cancer.
Glyphosate may also play a role in other cancers such as leukemia, brain cancer, and multiple myeloma.
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Who Is Most at Risk from Developing Cancer
If you used Roundup over many years and frequently, you may be at greater risk from developing Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma than others. Those who are especially at risk due to high exposure to the chemical, may be:
- Gardeners
- Farmers
- Agricultural workers
- Homeowners
If you worked in agriculture or landscaping and developed Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, you might want to speak to a lawyer, as you could get compensation.
If you have to use weed killers on a daily basis and worry about developing cancer, using a product without glyphosate such as Spectracide may be safer than Roundup.
Compensation Available in Roundup Lawsuits
If you suffered cancer from using Roundup, you could potentially sue the manufacturer Monsanto and receive compensation for your medical bills and your suffering, as well as other damages. Some of the types of compensation you could potentially recover can include the following, as well as others:
- Cancer treatments
- Hospitalization
- A home aide
- Medical transportation costs
- Medical devices
- Emotional and physical pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Any compensation is dependent on your individual case and the severity of your illness as well as the amount of financial losses you sustained due to your illness.
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Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Is Here for You
Taking on a multinational corporation such as Monsanto-Bayer can seem like a big and challenging prospect. However, you do not need to go through this on your own. We can help you with all aspects of your case and represent you in court, as well as negotiate with insurances, if needed.
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for a free consultation today: (800) 217-6099.
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