Many Roundup-related cancer cases involve non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, Roundup can cause multiple myeloma and other cancers. The World Health Organization (WHO) and a separate study conducted by the University of Washington found that exposure to Roundup significantly increases the risk of multiple myeloma and other forms of cancer.

Roundup is the most widely used herbicide in the world. Bayer, a Germany-based chemical company, bought Monsanto, the maker of Roundup. Both companies deny that the herbicide is a carcinogen. However, there is growing evidence that regular exposure to Roundup is linked to a significantly higher risk of contracting multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

New Study States Roundup Increases Cancer Risk by 41 Percent

The key ingredient in Roundup that increases the risk of cancer is glyphosate. According to Cornell University, glyphosate is an herbicide used by commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential consumers to kill unwanted plants, usually weeds. Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide that works by preventing plants from making growth proteins.

First registered for use in 1974, the WHO issued a public health warning in 2015 about a link between glyphosate and cancer. A new study released in 2019 by researchers is more alarming and definitive. According to scientists at the University of Washington, people exposed to Roundup have a 41 percent greater risk of getting cancer than people who are not exposed to the herbicide.

How Are People Exposed to Roundup and Increased Cancer Risk

Roundup herbicide is available in both granular and liquid form. You do not need any special training or permission to buy Roundup. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) insists that Roundup does not pose a significant health risk, the University of Washington study concludes that Roundup is harmful to humans and significantly increases the risk of multiple myeloma and other cancers. Several of the researchers are former members of a government panel that assessed Roundup for potential health risks.

Most people are exposed to Roundup through:

• Breathing in mist, vapor, or granular dust while preparing or applying.
• Absorbing through the skin while using or by touching plants that are still wet with spray.
• Ingesting if you touch your nose or mouth, or if you eat without first washing your hands.

People who work in agriculture, landscaping and related industries are regularly exposed to Roundup for a lengthy period and therefore are most at risk. However, anyone who uses an herbicide with glyphosate is at risk. Because of glyphosate, Roundup can cause multiple myeloma.

Have Any Plaintiffs Sued Roundup for Damages

There are several ongoing civil lawsuits involving Roundup. In March of 2019, a jury in San Francisco awarded plaintiff Edward Hardeman $80 million in damages based on his lawsuit that Roundup gave him non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Jurors found that using Roundup was a “substantial factor” in causing the plaintiff's cancer. Expert witnesses for the plaintiff cited the University of Washington study, and the 41 percent increased the risk for developing cancer.

In another case, a judge ordered Monsanto to pay plaintiff Dewayne Johnson damages after the former school groundskeeper was diagnosed with terminal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014. The court ordered the company to pay Mr. Johnson $78 million in damages. Bayer's stock has slipped in value after these lawsuits and the likelihood of similar legal actions.

Are There Safer Alternatives to Roundup

With growing evidence that Roundup can cause multiple myeloma and other forms of cancer, you may want to find safer methods of killing weeds. Good Housekeeping recommends several natural, non-toxic alternatives to Roundup, including:

• A physical weed barrier such as mulch or straw, making sure it is at least two inches thick.
• Boiling water with table salt added is effective when poured on young weeds.
• Rock salt is an effective way to prevent weeds from growing along lawn edges.
• Spray vinegar on weeds and unwanted plants, particularly horticultural grade vinegar with 20 percent acetic acid.
• Use a trowel or small hand rake to pull weeds manually.
• Make weeds compete for soil, sun, and water by planting ground cover and other plants.
• A goat makes a good pet and will happily eat dandelions, crabgrass, and every other type of weed (this may not be a possibility depending on zoning regulations).

What Is Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in a plasma cell. Plasma cells are special types of white blood cells that help your body fight infection. For people with multiple myeloma, cancer cells accumulate in the bone marrow and destroy healthy blood cells. As with any cancer, multiple myeloma can be fatal. The American Cancer Society estimates that 12,960 people will pass away from the disease in 2019.

Please Call if You Have Questions

There is research that shows Roundup causes multiple myeloma and other kinds of cancer. If you or a loved one was exposed to Roundup and is now ill, you could be entitled to compensation. Please call Tosi Law LLP at 888-311-8292 for more information. Our defective product lawyers are ready to help you file a Roundup lawsuit.

Related Frequently Asked Questions

• How Does Roundup Cause Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma?
• How Long Can a Person Live With Multiple Myeloma?
• Does Roundup Cause Multiple Myeloma?
• What Kind Of Lymphoma Does Roundup Cause?
• How Do I Know if I Am Eligible for A Roundup Claim?