The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has conducted a study that has found glyphosate to be present in samples from weed killers including the popular Roundup brand.
New Study Finds Cancer-linked Roundup Ingredient Present in Majority of U.S.
More than 80% of urine samples drawn from children and adults in a US health study contained the weedkilling chemical, glyphosate, linked to cancer.
According to the report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), out of 2,310 urine samples collected from a representative sample of American citizens, 1,885 had detectable traces of glyphosate in them. This active ingredient, found in many herbicides including Roundup, is used throughout the world. Almost one third of the participants in this study were children aged six to eight.
While researchers have observed elevated levels of glyphosate in human urine samples, the CDC has only now begun to examine the extent to which humans are exposed to glyphosate in the US amidst concerns about the use of pesticides in food and water.
Picture courtesy News Hub
According to Lianne Sheppard, a professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington, glyphosate exposure increases the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
In the 1990s, when Monsanto Co. introduced genetically engineered crops designed to be sprayed directly with Roundup, both the amount and prevalence of glyphosate found in human urine increased according to a 2017 study published by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine which also indicated that .there was “an urgent need” to examine the impact of glyphosate on human health in foods people commonly consume.
It is estimated that US farmers use over 200 million pounds of glyphosate each year on their fields. Besides spraying directly on genetically engineered crops like corn and soybeans, the weed killer is also sprayed on non-genetically engineered crops, such as wheat and oats to dry out crops before harvest. The herbicide is also widely used by farmers, including spinach growers and almond producers, and is considered the most widely used herbicide in history.
Picture courtesy Planet Natural
There is evidence that residues of glyphosate can be found in a variety of foods made from crops sprayed with glyphosate, including baby food. As a result, children are exposed to this herbicide via the food that they eat.
According to Monsanto, and Bayer which acquired Monsanto in 2018, glyphosate and Roundup products are safe, and residues in food and urine do not pose any health risks. Yet, this claim is counter to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer which classified glyphosate has been classified as a probable human carcinogen in 2015.
While, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified glyphosate as not likely to be carcinogenic, a federal appeals court issued an opinion last month vacating the agency’s safety determination, ordering to further consider evidence concerning the risks associated with the use of glyphosate.
We’re Here to Help
Last week, the Supreme Court rejected Bayer’s attempt to dismiss legal claims by plaintiffs who claim that Roundup weed killer causes cancer, and upheld a $25 million judgment in favor of a California plaintiff who used Roundup for decades..
Our team at Oppenheim Law recognizes the emotional burden these illnesses can have on families. That’s why our firm is committed to representing our clients, providing the best team of professionals to represent them.
If you or a loved one has been exposed to Roundup either directly or indirectly and have unfortunately developed Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Please feel free to contact us at 954-384-6114 so we can inform you of your legal rights so you can obtain the compensation to which you are entitled.
From the Trenches,
Roy Oppenheim