This time of year, many homeowners are working to get their lawns back in shape for the year, and this involves addressing weeds. While some folks opt for a chemical free approach to lawn care, many American’s use commercially available herbicides. With any chemical product, responsible consumers read labels well and use products as directed. Unfortunately, labels are only as reliable as the companies that put them on their products.
An example of this is found in recent research suggesting that the supposedly inactive ingredients in Monsanto’s weed killer Roundup may be just as harmful as glyphosate, the active ingredient. The research apparently shows that the company may have intentionally mislabeled certain chemicals as “inert ingredients” to hide their harmful effects to humans.
The research specifically shows that the inert ingredients used in Roundup are each more toxic than glyphosate by itself. Now, apparently, the company is being sued by consumers who claimed that they developed cancer—specifically non-Hodgkin Lymphoma—as a result of frequent exposure to the product. Plaintiffs are aiming to show that the company intentionally mislabeled the co-formulants to make them sound less toxic.
The case is a good example of the kind of issues deal with in toxic tort litigation, which can involve a number of different types of toxic exposure. Those who are unfortunate enough to have been exposed to toxic substances, whether acutely or over a number of years, in the home, workplace or elsewhere, should always work with an experienced attorney to have their case evaluated and to determine the best course of action in their case.