Round-Up Lawsuits, Explained

In 2014, California school groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson received a diagnosis of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Filing a complaint and demand for a jury trial against the Monsanto company, Johnson believed his extended use of the brand’s herbicides in his daily work responsibilities were the cause of his condition.

 

Calling into question the safety of the chemical contents of Roundup Pro and Ranger Pro in particular, both of these products share a common active ingredient: glyphosate. A powerful herbicide used from large scale agriculture to hobby gardening, this chemical was largely considered safe for humans - but for weeds? Not so much.

 

There was enough evidence for a jury to find that glyphosate was to blame for Johnson’s lymphoma, and he was awarded over $250 million in damages (now significantly reduced). This case also set an important precedent. Spurring studies from major cancer and public health organizations all over the world, the question grows from “what is ‘safe’ for humans” to “who gets to decide what ’safe’ really means?” If common herbicides cause cancer, why are they still on store shelves? And who else may be at risk for exposure?

 

Six of seven agencies who reviewed the toxicity of glyphosate alone revealed that it was unlikely to be carcinogenic on its own - but further study may be warranted on other ingredients. Take a look at this infographic for more detail on the agro-chemical industry, how it affects us humans, and the importance of formulation transparency.