Roundup Cancer Lawsuit News

Glyphosate Added to California's List of Cancer-Causing Chemicals

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup Ready herbicide has been added to California's list of chemicals that cause cancer

Wednesday, October 11, 2017 - Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup herbicide, has recently been added to the state of California's list of chemicals that cause cancer under the state's cancer-warning law known as Proposition 65. Effective July 7, 2018, bottles of Roundup Ready herbicide containing glyphosate must include a warning label stating that the product's ingredients are cancer-causing. Inclusion on the cancer list is overseen by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. The state's health organization cites among other things, the International Agency for Cancer Research's findings that glyphosate "probably causes cancer". The WHO agency made the determination after scientific studies revealed chronic doses of glyphosate caused liver disease and tumors in mice and rats as well as DNA damage to human cells from exposure to glyphosate.

In addition to the IARC findings, another factor contributing to the California cancer designation was the recently unsealed court documents showing collusion to falsify evidence from scientific studies between Monsanto and an executive at the US Environmental Protection Agency. The central figure in the correspondence, Jess Rowland, quit his job as a manager in the US Environmental Agency's herbicide division after it was revealed he bragged that he "deserved a medal" for his interference in quashing so many of the agency's investigations into glyphosate's health risks. Over 20 ongoing lawsuits against Monsanto for failing to warn consumers of the alleged cancer risks of using Roundup cited such correspondence.

There are currently 850 chemicals on California's cancer list, previously known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. Businesses with over 10 employees are required to warn consumers when one of the products they sell is on the list. In addition to the California list, the Netherlands and several South American Countries have also classified glyphosate as a carcinogen.

Monsanto has aggressively fought glyphosate's inclusion on the Proposition 65 list on the grounds that the company feels the health risks are "unwarranted on the basis of science and the law." The maker of Roundup Ready herbicide is fighting the state's determination in court but has been denied a request to remove the listing from taking effect pending the outcome of their court case. Monsanto vows to continue the challenge that has been ongoing since 2015. According to Bloomberg.com, "The allegation that glyphosate can cause cancer in humans is inconsistent with decades of comprehensive safety reviews by the leading regulatory authorities around the world, Monsanto said."

Monsanto argued that glyphosate does not cause cancer and that the cancer warning label will harm the company's business. Monsanto is the world leader in agricultural productivity products such as Roundup Ready seeds and herbicide which accounted for over 30% of Monsanto's sales totaling almost $5 billion dollars in 2015, the most recent year accounting statistics are available. With such an enormous amount of money on the line, Monsanto is certain to fight the California cancer designation and other health challenges of glyphosate for years to come.

More Recent Roundup Cancer Lawsuit News:

Lawyers for Roundup Cancer Lawsuits

Attorneys handling Roundup cancer lawsuits for leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma offer free, no-obligation case review for individuals and families who believe they may have grounds to file a Roundup cancer lawsuit. Working on a contingency basis, these attorneys are committed to never charging legal fees unless they win compensation in your Roundup cancer lawsuit. The product liability litigators handling Roundup claims at the Onder Law Firm have a strong track record of success in representing families harmed by dangerous drugs and consumer products.