What Kind of Cancer Does Glyphosate Cause?
4 Amount Affect Factors

Glyphosate is a common chemical found in weed killers like Roundup that has been known to put users at an increased risk of cancer.

This article will explore the cancers these weed killers can cause and other effects of exposure to Glyphosate. 

We have done months of research on this chemical, its components, what types of cancers it causes, and how it causes them.

Quick Summary

• Glyphosate causes several types of lymphoma, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia.
• Glyphosate causes cancer by damaging DNA on tumor suppressors.
• Glyphosate causes other side effects, including liver and kidney damage, skin or eye irritation, and more.
• Other natural factors that put you in danger of developing cancer include age, alcohol use, tobacco use, obesity, and more.  
• Certain factors like length of exposure, proving your cancer was caused by Roundup, and underlying disease can affect the success of your lawsuit.

What Is Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is a herbicide used to control the growth of weeds and grasses.

Glyphosate-based herbicides such as Roundup and other Glyphosate weed killers have been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency since 1974. 

Roundup weed killer works by blocking enzymes that encourage plant growth.

Glyphosate-based herbicides are used in agriculture and lawn and garden care as a weed killer.

Products like Roundup are made up of an active ingredient acid, trimesium salt, diammonium salt, sodium and potassium salt, mono ammonium salt, and isopropylamine salt.

Related Article: Glyphosate Lawsuit Update

What Kind of Cancer Does Glyphosate Exposure Cause?

Glyphosate herbicides put users at an increased risk of cancer. A study published in 2019 shows that exposure to Glyphosate-based herbicides raises your cancer risk by 41 percent [1].

Exposure to Glyphosate has been known to cause non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, hair cell lymphoma, large B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, skin lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia [2]. 

How Glyphosate Causes Cancer

Exposure to Glyphosate causes DNA damage by producing double-strand breaks in lymphocytes.

Double-strand breaks also can lead to the chromosome changes that cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma [3].

Glyphosate also produces changes in DNA methylation.

DNA methylation is a mechanism that controls the expression of genes and increases the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers.

DNA methylation also causes DNA damage to peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which are important cells of the immune system similar to the white blood cell that helps to fight off infections.

Glyphosate also affects the DNA of promoter regions on tumor suppressors leading to cancer development. 

“It’s the surfactants that carry the glyphosate through the skin and inside the body, and then inside cells where damage is done to DNA”
– Charles Benbrook, Agricultural Economist

Who Is at the Highest Risk for Glyphosate Exposure?

Those at the highest risk for exposure to this chemical include farmers, landscapers, professional gardeners, and other agricultural workers.

Common Signs of Lymphoma Caused by Exposure to Roundup

There are many symptoms caused by long-term exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides that indicate you have developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

These include: 

• Fever
• Consistent fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained weight loss
• Night sweats
• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Trouble breathing
• Itchy skin
• Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, groin, or neck

Glyphosate Side Effects

The weed killer Roundup has several other negative effects on human health.

These include:

• Liver and kidney damage leading to chronic kidney disease
• Eye irritation
• Skin irritation
• Increased saliva production
• Burns of the mouth and throat
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Cancers like non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Swollen lymph nodes

Other Risk Factors for Cancer

There are several other natural risk factors that pose a higher risk of developing cancer.

These include:

• Age
• Alcohol use
• Other cancer-causing substances
• Chronic inflammation
• Diet
• Hormones
• Other infectious agents
• Obesity
• Radiation exposure
• Immunosuppression
• Tobacco use
• Sunlight exposure

Reasons for the Recall of Glyphosate

There has been no recall of Glyphosate to date. However, research suggests Glyphosate is linked to several cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma [4].

Bayer vehemently denies that Glyphosate causes cancer.

Despite getting pressure from lawmakers, the World Health Organization cancer agency firmly found that Roundup is carcinogenic [5].

What Is the Burden of Proof for a Glyphosate Claim?

If you have experienced non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another cancer associated with Roundup, you may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit.

Bayer may be liable for your illness based on the failure to warn customers of the potential risks of Roundup.

To hold Monsanto accountable, you will need to prove two key elements.

1. First, you must prove you have a history of exposure to Roundup; whether you used Roundup commercially or on your lawn as a weed killer.
2. Second, you will need medical proof that you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or any other cancer that Roundup can cause.

Average Settlement

The average Glyphosate lawsuit settles for $5,000 to $250,000. 

As of 2020, Bayer has been ordered to pay $10 billion in settlements to cancer patients affected by Glyphosate [6].

Factors Affecting the Amount Received From a Bayer Lawsuit

Several other natural factors pose a risk to the amount received from a Bayer lawsuit.

These include:

1. Length of exposure: Those with the most exposure will have the strongest case.
2. Cancer diagnosis: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma from Roundup develops within two years, so you will need to ensure that the date of exposure and your cancer diagnosis date fit into this time frame.
3. Scientific data: Scientific data to prove that Roundup caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another cancer.
4. Having other health issues: Underlying issues that could have led to cancer, such as alcohol use, age, or immunosuppression, can decrease your chances of winning the case.

Related Articles:

• How Much Glyphosate Is Used In The US?
• Monsanto Roundup Lawsuit
• Adverse Effects of Glyphosate

See all related toxic tort lawsuits our lawyers covered so far.

FAQs

What Is the Difference Between Glyphosate and Roundup?

The main difference between Roundup and Glyphosate is that Roundup is a brand that uses the chemical Glyphosate in its formula. Glyphosate is a chemical compound.

What Is a Natural Alternative to Glyphosate?

A natural alternative to Glyphosate is white vinegar. Spraying a small amount of white vinegar on the weeds’ leaves can help to keep them at bay.

Why Is Roundup Still Sold?

Roundup is still sold because the Environmental Protection Agency hasn’t found Glyphosate harmful to humans, although researchers concluded Glyphosate does cause cancer.

What Is the Best Alternative to Glyphosate?

The best alternative to Glyphosate is manual removal, flame or steam weeding, or herbicides like Diquat or Glufosinate. 

Get a Free Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Lawyers

The Product Liability Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP is an experienced team of lawyers representing plaintiffs from all 50 states in Roundup lawsuits.

If you or a first-degree relative has been diagnosed with lymphoma or leukemia after using or being exposed to Glyphosate, contact us immediately for a free lawsuit evaluation.

You may be eligible to file a lawsuit, and our law firm can help.

References:

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1383574218300887
2. https://www.peifferwolf.com/roundup-lawsuits/
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2152265021001518
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7530464/
5. https://www.science.org/content/article/who-rebuts-house-committee-criticisms-about-glyphosate-cancer-warning
6. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/business/roundup-settlement-lawsuits.html