Signs & Symptoms of Roundup Poisoning

Roundup exposure can cause mild symptoms right away and more severe, even life-threatening consequences over time.

Roundup exposure can cause symptoms ranging from minor skin and eye irritation to life-threatening cancers like non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

It is surprisingly easy to experience exposure to Roundup, a common herbicide (plant killer). According to the University of California at Davis, exposure can happen when the product gets on your skin when you are applying the chemical or if you touch sprayed plants that are still wet.

You can accidentally inhale Roundup or get it in your eyes when spraying it on plants. If you apply the chemical and then smoke or eat before washing your hands, you could swallow Roundup.

Roundup stays in the soil for up to six months and appears in vegetables and other plants grown in soil previously treated with the herbicide. You can get Roundup exposure if you eat these plants.

Signs of Roundup Exposure

Roundup contains glyphosate, which helps plants absorb the chemical. This is one of the cancer-causing ingredients in Roundup. These additional ingredients can make Roundup even more toxic. Some symptoms of exposure to Roundup can appear right away, and others develop over time. Here are some of the signs of Roundup exposure that can develop right away:

• Eye irritation
• Skin irritation
• Irritation in the nose and throat
• Increased saliva
• Burns in the mouth and throat
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Death

A pet or other animal that touches or eats plants on which Roundup spray has not yet dried can experience vomiting, diarrhea, sleepiness, drooling, and loss of appetite.

Symptoms of Glyphosate Poisoning

If you swallow Roundup, call 911. Common signs of glyphosate poisoning include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Coma
• Drowsiness
• Low blood pressure
• Weakness
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Irritation in the mouth and throat
• Anxiety
• Difficulty breathing
• Blue fingernails or lips
• Nausea and vomiting (some people vomit blood)

More severe indications of exposure to Roundup include:

• Gastrointestinal corrosion
• Mouth and throat pain
• Abdominal pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Organ damage to the liver and kidneys
• Kidney failure to the extent of needing dialysis
• Respiratory distress
• Pulmonary edema
• Shock
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Significant irregular heart rhythm, followed by death
• Impaired consciousness
• Metabolic acidosis
• Severe skin burns
• Corneal injury

Roundup and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hundreds of lawsuits allege a link between Roundup exposure and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. According to the Mayo Clinic, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts in your lymphatic system, which is supposed to fight disease in your body. Lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, develop tumors in a patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Types of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

There are five types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma
• Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
• Follicular lymphoma
• Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia

Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Some people have no initial symptoms of this disease. Others develop some of the following signs:

• Swollen lymph nodes in the armpits, neck, or groin, even if they do not hurt
• Pain or swelling in the abdomen
• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain
• Coughing
• Fever
• Unexplained weight loss
• Night sweats
• Ongoing fatigue

Although the malignant lymphocytes start in your lymph nodes, the cancer can spread to other aspects of the lymphatic system. These areas can include the tonsils, adenoids, spleen, bone marrow, lymphatic vessels, and thymus. Sometimes, non-Hodgkin lymphoma will migrate to other organs that are not part of the lymphatic system.

Causes of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

The Mayo Clinic lists these things as factors that can increase your risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma:

• Some of the chemicals in weed killers and insecticides can increase the likelihood of the lymphoma.
• Immuno-suppressant drugs. People who have had an organ transplant have to take anti-rejection medications for years or the rest of their lives. Because the drugs that discourage your body from rejecting the new organ also reduce your immune system's ability to fight new diseases, these patients are at a higher risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Age. Although a person can develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma at any age, the disease is most common in people who are 60 or older. The risk of cancer increases with age.
• Some bacterial and viral infections. There is a possible link between some infections and the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The same bacteria that can cause ulcers, Helicobacter pylori, is linked to increased risk of the lymphoma. Also, viral infections like the Epstein-Barr infection and HIV may correlate with an increased likelihood of developing the cancer.

What to Expect if You Suspect Roundup Exposure Caused Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

The diagnostic process to confirm or rule out non-Hodgkin lymphoma can involve these steps:

• Medical history. Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history and your family's medical history.
• Physical examination. Your doctor will examine you, looking for swollen lymph nodes in your underarm, neck, and groin to see if your liver or spleen are swollen.
• Blood and urine tests. You might undergo these lab tests to find out if there is some other cause for your symptoms.
• X-rays and other imaging studies. These tests, which can also include CT scans and MRIs, will look for the presence of tumors in your body.
• Biopsy. After removing part of all of one of your lymph nodes, the lab will analyze the tissue to look for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and identify the specific type, if so.
• Bone marrow test. The medical professional will remove a sample of your bone marrow from your hipbone with a needle. The lab will then analyze the sample, looking for lymphoma cells.

Roundup may cause or contribute to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. If you suspect that you have sustained harm from Roundup exposure, a Roundup lawsuit lawyer can help. Call Tosi Law LLP today at 888-311-8292, to line up your free consultation.

Related Frequently Asked Questions

• What Cancers Are Linked To Roundup Exposure?
• Who Is Most At Risk For Roundup Exposure?
• What Is The Cancer Causing Ingredient In Roundup?
• What Kind Of Lymphoma Does Roundup Cause?
• Does Roundup Cause Multiple Myeloma?