Glyphosate Side Effects May Include Cancer, Tainted Food and Water

By Sage Datko

In addition to the risk of cancer associated with Bayer AG’s popular weedkiller Roundup, there may be additional dangerous side effects to using this household chemical. Glyphosate side effects may include cancer in humans, as well as the contamination of the food and water supply.

While lawsuits regarding cancers allegedly caused by Roundup have been in the news for years, recent information is coming to light indicating that the chemical glyphosate in the weedkiller may have many more consequences. According to multiple studies conducted over the past decade, glyphosate may pollute water sources, taint food supplies, and stay in soil for long after it was sprayed. Additionally, the chemical may also cause diseases in mammals that can be inherited by future generations.

About Glyphosate and Roundup

Glyphosate was patented by agricultural company Monsanto in the early 1970s. Since then, the chemical has become the most popular weedkiller in the world. It is used by home gardeners, professional landscapers, groundskeepers, farmers, commercial crop growers, and more.

Although Monsanto, which Bayer acquired in 2018, has claimed for years that the chemical in its weedkiller does not harm humans or animals, research seems to indicate otherwise.

Possible Glyphosate Side Effects

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organization, reported that glyphosate is a likely carcinogen. This means that the chemical has been officially classified as a substance likely to cause cancer in humans. In 2016, an independent group of biologists authored a paper attempting to clarify the information that is known about glyphosate side effects on humans, animals, and the environment.

The paper cited studies on long- term traces of glyphosate in drinking and ground water, alleging that this chemical may be exposed to millions of people through their drinking water. Additionally, the paper discussed studies on rodents and pigs that indicated that glyphosate may damage mammals’ livers and kidneys, possibly resulting  in birth defects.

Other studies on glyphosate side effects have shown that the chemical may have an impact on biological functions that last for generations. According to these studies, environmental factors affecting an animal during its lifetime may also be passed down to the animal’s offspring.

Glyphosate Lawsuits

A recent case involving glyphosate-related cancer ended with a jury awarding $2 billion in damages to plaintiffs who claimed they were diagnosed with cancer after years of using Roundup. More than 10,000 other lawsuits are currently pending against Bayer regarding the product and its side effects. While most of these cases are related to cancer caused by glyphosate in Roundup, more plaintiffs may come forward as additional information emerges about the dangers of this chemical.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer as a result of exposure to Roundup or glyphosate, legal aid may be available. Hiring a qualified attorney and filing a class action lawsuit may be the first steps toward pursuing compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, or pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one developed cancer after using Roundup as a farm worker or home gardener, you may have a legal claim. Legal migrant farm workers may also seek help. Learn more by filling out the form on this page for a FREE case evaluation.

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