Bayer to Pay Nearly $11 Billion to Roundup Victims

Bayer announced that it is preparing to pay up to $10.9 billion in damages in order to settle approximately 125,000 legal claims that the company’s popular weed killer, Roundup, causes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This settlement aims to end roughly three-quarters of the total pending cases against the corporate conglomerate, and allots a certain financial amount for future payouts to victims who sustained injuries or were made ill by the cancer-causing agent.

The Dangers of Roundup

Roundup is one of the most popular herbicides in the United States. One of its main ingredients is glyphosate, which the World Health Organization (WHO) first called “probably carcinogenic to humans” back in 2015. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made moves to claim that glyphosate is safe, even a previous member of the agency’s own advisory panel conducted independent research and found that glyphosate can increase a person’s cancer risk by a whopping 41%.

Glyphosate is particularly harmful in large doses. This is problematic because when Monsanto (Bayer purchased the company in 2018) created genetically modified crops were less likely to be damaged by exposure to Roundup, many farmers began to use the pesticide in far larger doses. This created several hazards for unsuspecting, hardworking people who rely entirely on the success of their crops – and keeping pests away from destroying them – to feed, clothe and put a roof over the heads of their families and loved ones.

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

A study from 2019 confirms other experts’ previous findings: that there is a statistically significant risk in developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma when a person is exposed to glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that originates in the lymphatic system after the body produces too many lymphocytes, or a specific type of white blood cell. Some preexisting risk factors can compound a person’s chances for developing non-Hodgkin’s even further, such as a history of infection (particularly Epstein-Barr virus, Helicobacter pylori, or HIV), the use of immunosuppressant drugs, being above 60-years-old, and exposure to certain chemicals (e.g. insect and weed killers).

Although not every individual who develops non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma experiences the same symptoms, some of the most common ones include:

• Chest pain
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Abdominal pain or swelling
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss

If you are experiencing symptoms that are bothersome and recurring, it is advisable to consult directly with a medical professional. If you currently use Roundup (or used the popular weed killer in the past) and are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek medical advice right away. We also recommend using weed killers that are not glyphosate-based in order to limit these known cancer risks.

Despite the company’s many claims that Roundup is safe for consumers to use, Bayer’s $11 billion settlement is quite telling. Let us also not forget the stories of the tens of thousands of people who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or experienced other catastrophic medical complications after exposure to the dangerous pesticide. As Bayer tries to put these troubles behind them, there are still victims out there. If you used Roundup and became ill or developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, someone at our firm can help. Contact a representative online now who can answer your questions.

Philadelphia Products Liability Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP Representing Injured Individuals Since 1947

Galfand Berger has offices located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. To schedule a consultation, call us at 800-222-8792 or complete our online contact form.