Roundup Mantle Cell Lymphoma Lawsuit Filed Against Monsanto

A Georgia man who indicates that he developed mantle cell lymophoma from exposure to Roundup has filed a lawsuit against Monsanto, alleging that the manufacturer failed to warn about the cancer risk associated with the popular weedkiller.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Christopher Northover in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, claiming that Roundup is defective, dangerous to human health and lacked proper warnings and directions about the dangers associated with glyphosate contained in the herbicide.

Northover states that he began using Roundup in approximately 1990, and regularly sprayed the weedkiller according to all safety and precautionary warnings provided by Monsanto.

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As a result of glyphosate contained in Roundup, Northover indicates that he was subsequently diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma, which is a form of large b-cell lymphoma that mainly affects men over 60, and only comprises about 5% of all cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) diagnosed.

Mantle cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can progress slowly, or be very aggressive, and generally forms in the mantle of the lymph node. It is considered one of the more dangerous forms of cancer, because it is hard to detect, and often is not found until it has spread to bone marrow or the gastrointestinal tract.

The case joins a growing number of Roundup lawsuits filed against Monsanto by farmers, landscapers, agricultural workers and others exposed to the weedkiller throughout the United States. Each of the plaintiffs raise similar allegations, indicate that their diagnosis with various forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) was due to the manufacturer’s reckless promotion of Roundup, which pushed greater and greater use of the chemical, without disclosing the potential health risks or providing sufficient safety instructions to minimize exposure.

Concerns about the link between Roundup and lymphoma surfaced in March 2015, when the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) determined that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is likely a cancer-causing agent. In particular, the IARC report links the side effects of Roundup to an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Monsanto has denied that there is a link between Roundup and lymphona, calling the IARC’s findings “junk science.” However, Northover and other plaintiffs maintain that Monsanto knew about the risks for decades and has actively tried to cover up or downplay the scientific data, and that its own testing of glyphosate was insufficient.

In addition, the lawsuit warns that glyphosate may not be acting alone in increasing cancer risks, also pointing to the surfactant polyethoxylated tallow amine (POEA), another ingredient in Roundup, which may be acting together with glyphosate to increase cancer risks.

“Defendant knew or should have known that tests limited to Roundup’s active ingredient glyphosate were insufficient to prove the safety of Roundup,” the lawsuit states. “Defendant failed to appropriately and adequately test Roundup, Roundup’s adjuvants and ‘inert’ ingredients, and/or the surfactant POEA to protect Plaintiff from Roundup. Rather than performing appropriate tests, Defendant relied upon flawed industry-supported studies designed to protect Defendant’s economic interests rather than Plaintiff and the consuming public.”

The lawsuits over Roundup allege that plaintiffs may have avoided a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or other cancers if they had been warned about the Roundup risks for farmers, landscapers and others in the agricultural industry, as safety precautions could have been taken or other products could have been used to control the growth of weeds.

Northover’s lawsuit will be consolidated with all other Roundup cases pending in the federal court system, which are centralized before U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in the Northern District of California, for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings. Following coordinated proceedings before Judge Chhabria, if Roundup settlements or another resolution for the cases are not reached, each individual complaint may be remanded back to the federal courts where it was originally filed for an individual trial date.

Image Credit: Photo Courtesy of Mike Mozart via Flickr Creative Commons

15 Comments

  • WesMarch 13, 2020 at 4:49 am

    I started using round up in 2006 thru 2009 on my lawn on regular basis. I had APL leukemia in 2009 and it returned in 2013. I am in remission. I don’t use any chemicals on my lawn any longer.

  • beaAugust 12, 2019 at 12:09 am

    Husband used Round Up for many years, several times a year. He passed away 7 mos ago from mantle cell lymphoma. No history of cancer in his family, but there was a history of longevity. He was also exposed to it on the golf course, and from the well water. I hope Monsanto doesn't think they can low ball the price of a life, or for the people that are suffering. They are totally responsible fo[Show More]Husband used Round Up for many years, several times a year. He passed away 7 mos ago from mantle cell lymphoma. No history of cancer in his family, but there was a history of longevity. He was also exposed to it on the golf course, and from the well water. I hope Monsanto doesn't think they can low ball the price of a life, or for the people that are suffering. They are totally responsible for all these cases of lymphoma. Husband had no known health problems before being diagnosed with mantle cell.

  • TommyJune 8, 2017 at 1:42 am

    Sounds like agent Orange to me...

  • TeresaMay 17, 2017 at 12:59 am

    I have used roundup for the past ten years about 6 times a season and was diagnosed with mantel cell lymphoma in July 2016. I used it to control weeds on our sidewalks, gravel driveway, and flower beds. I am 59 years old. I am currently taking ACP196 and maintenance chemo every other month.

  • PhillipMay 3, 2017 at 11:02 pm

    I wonder if Roundup is the only herbicide that contains glyphosate? While I have used Roundup off and on for the last 10 years, I used another brand of herbicide at work that came in a 55 gallon drum and mixed with diesel fuel and sprayed with an industrial type sprayer. This stuff had such a strong odor that I refused to spray it without a painters mask. They provided a mask for me and protective[Show More]I wonder if Roundup is the only herbicide that contains glyphosate? While I have used Roundup off and on for the last 10 years, I used another brand of herbicide at work that came in a 55 gallon drum and mixed with diesel fuel and sprayed with an industrial type sprayer. This stuff had such a strong odor that I refused to spray it without a painters mask. They provided a mask for me and protective gloves but I could still smell it through the mask. That was 4 or 5 years ago and then 6 weeks ago I was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma stage 4. I will be starting chemotherapy in 5 days. I just want them to pay for my treatments. Its putting me in the poor house even with insurance.

  • CarolApril 14, 2017 at 2:49 am

    I have Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Prior to my diagnosis and learning the dangers of Roundup, it was used in my backyard for years.

  • CharlesFebruary 17, 2017 at 10:38 pm

    I was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma in October 2015. Began treatment immediately and in April 2016 had a stem cell transplant. Currently receiving a maintenance drug every two months. I used round- up since 1978 on the farm

  • NinaJanuary 27, 2017 at 7:01 am

    They are killing us and getting Rich and making the medical profession rich in the meantime.

  • KarlJanuary 24, 2017 at 4:24 am

    My husband had cancer 2 times and has been using round up all his life they have him 3 moths to live in 2003 and again in 2004 he had bone marrow transplant he still uses round up

  • BrendaJanuary 23, 2017 at 12:27 pm

    I had NHL at the age of 27. I had worked for a lawn company in my early 20's.

  • JudithJanuary 22, 2017 at 7:14 pm

    Many of the so called weeds have health benefits if used in the right manner they are not only poisoning us they are taking away vital herbal medicine that stops some of the problems they cause ....

  • DebbieJanuary 22, 2017 at 4:52 pm

    And we don't they have cileca on the list, because they spray the wheat with it which causes Cileca and put it in all or food.

  • DebbieJanuary 20, 2017 at 1:46 pm

    Glyphosate poisoning is no joke

  • PatriceJanuary 17, 2017 at 5:19 pm

    I used Roundup in my back yard for two seasons for controlling weeds. I was diagnosed with APL Leukemia in 2010 which is extremely rare and there was no family history of cancer. I'm currently in remission.

  • ChrisJanuary 14, 2017 at 11:29 pm

    I hope that every single person who has ever held a position to stop Roundup and did nothing as their responsibility for their shareholders dies a slow and painful death and looses att they hold dear. They killed my Father Gerald "Jay" Rusnell.

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