Jobs That Put Workers At Risk For Roundup Exposure
The pesticide-fighting product, Roundup, has been making headlines in the past year due to large jury verdicts from lawsuits filed by people who claim this weed killer caused them to develop cancer. Studies have also linked Roundup's active ingredient to a higher risk of developing cancer. The ingredient has been linked to numerous health issues.
Below, find out what jobs may put you more at risk for being exposed to this hazardous fiber. The defective product lawyers at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy can advise you of your legal options.
Top Jobs At Risk
While anyone in the United States may potentially be exposed to Roundup, there are certain professions that place workers at greater risk for exposure. These include agricultural professions as well as those who work outside, including:
- Farmers
- Agricultural workers
- Herbicide applicators
- Groundskeepers
- Landscapers
- Professional gardeners
With more than 7,500 farms spanning over 14 million acres, Ohio
agricultural workers may be at grave risk of exposure to Roundup. People who work in these kinds of jobs could be exposed to Roundup in various ways:
- Breathing it in through their nose or mouth
- Eating food treated or tainted by it
- Absorbing it through their skin
What Are The Risks Of Roundup Exposure?
Glyphosate interferes with a plant’s ability to function properly, causing it to starve to death, wither and die.
Glyphosate has been linked to many serious medical conditions. The most researched link is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Other medical conditions that may be associated with exposure to glyphosate include:
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Lung cancer
- Blood cancer
- ALS
- Parkinson’s disease
- Heart disease
- Depression
While there have been some connections made between glyphosate and various medical conditions, the manufacturers deny them. They say additional research is needed to establish whether these medical conditions are caused by the active ingredient.
Some research shows that 93 percent of people have been exposed to glyphosate. Major organizations have debated about the potential dangers of the chemical, with the Environmental Protection Agency stating that it is non-carcinogenic, but the World Health Organization has classified the chemical as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
Successful Lawsuits
There are currently 9,300 Roundup lawsuits pending against the manufacturer based on claims that its active ingredient is responsible for plaintiffs’ contracting non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
In 2018, a dying man was awarded $289 million after a jury trial against Monsanto, the former manufacturer of Roundup. The victim alleged that his exposure to the weed killer was the cause of him developing terminal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In 2019, there was a $2 billion verdict awarded to a California couple who are both stricken with the disease.
If you were exposed to Roundup at your job and have developed cancer or a serious illness, the skilled lawyers at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy may be able to assist you. We may be able to you help you identify the parties responsible for your exposure and whether you may have a
workers’ compensation claim.
We work on a contingency-fee basis, so we do not get paid unless we successfully help you recover compensation for your claim. You pay no upfront fees, so there is no risk in contacting us to find out about your legal rights and options. Contact us today to schedule a confidential and complimentary consultation with an experienced lawyer.
