How Can You Be Exposed to Roundup and Get Sick?

Roundup is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, trusted by everyone from industrial farmers to home gardeners to eliminate weeds. For decades, its manufacturer, Monsanto (now Bayer), marketed it as a safe and effective solution. However, growing evidence and thousands of lawsuits have revealed a dark side: the active ingredient, glyphosate, is linked to serious health problems, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Many people who have been diagnosed with cancer are left wondering how this could have happened. The truth is that exposure to Roundup is far more common than most people realize. At Walch Law, we are committed to helping victims of corporate negligence understand the risks and fight for their rights. This page explains the primary ways you can be exposed to Roundup and how that exposure can lead to devastating illness.

The primary health concern with Roundup is its main active ingredient, glyphosate. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans." This conclusion was based on evidence showing that glyphosate can cause a specific type of DNA damage called oxidative stress, which can lead to the cell mutations that cause cancer.

Exposure doesn't just happen to the person spraying the chemical. Glyphosate is a pervasive chemical that can contaminate the air, water, and soil, creating multiple pathways for it to enter the human body.

Exposure can occur in various settings, and it often happens without the person even being aware of the risk. The danger is highest for those with direct, repeated contact, but even indirect exposure can pose a threat over time.

This is the most dangerous and high-risk form of exposure. Individuals who work with Roundup regularly are at the greatest risk of developing related illnesses. This includes:

• Farmworkers and Agricultural Laborers: Handling industrial quantities of Roundup, mixing concentrated chemicals, and spraying large areas for hours at a time.
• Landscapers and Groundskeepers: Maintaining parks, golf courses, school campuses, and private properties, often involving daily or weekly use of Roundup sprayers.
• Nursery and Garden Center Employees: Working with and around Roundup-treated plants and soil.

During direct application, exposure happens through skin contact with the liquid chemical, as well as inhalation of aerosolized droplets.

You don't have to be the one spraying Roundup to be exposed. Glyphosate droplets can be carried by the wind over long distances, a phenomenon known as "spray drift." If you live, work, or attend school near agricultural fields, parks, or other large properties where Roundup is sprayed, you could be inhaling these toxic chemicals without knowing it. Children playing outside near a treated area are especially vulnerable to spray drift.

Glyphosate does not just disappear after it is sprayed. It can remain active in the soil and on the surface of plants for a significant amount of time. You can be exposed by:

• Working or playing in a treated area: Children and pets playing on a lawn that was recently sprayed can easily come into contact with the chemical residue.
• Gardening or handling plants: Weeding a garden or handling plants that have been treated with Roundup can lead to skin exposure.

Glyphosate is water-soluble and can run off from treated fields into groundwater, streams, and rivers, potentially contaminating drinking water supplies.

Additionally, because it is used so extensively on food crops like soy, corn, and wheat, glyphosate residue can be found in many common packaged foods. While the levels in any single product may be low, the cumulative effect of consuming small amounts of glyphosate from multiple sources over many years is a growing concern for researchers.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another serious illness and you have a history of exposure to Roundup, you have legal rights. The first step is to document your exposure history as thoroughly as possible. Write down your work history, the frequency and duration of your Roundup use, and any details you can remember.

The next and most critical step is to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. Proving that your illness was caused by a specific chemical exposure is a complex scientific and legal challenge that requires a dedicated team.

At Walch Law, we have the resources and expertise to take on powerful corporations like Bayer. We will:

• Provide a Free Case Evaluation: We will listen to your story and help you determine if you have a valid claim.
• Investigate Your Exposure: We will work to reconstruct your exposure history, gather evidence, and build a powerful case on your behalf.
• Engage Scientific Experts: We collaborate with leading oncologists and toxicologists who can provide expert testimony to link your illness to glyphosate exposure.
• Fight for Maximum Compensation: We will demand the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

You pay nothing unless we win your case. You should not have to bear the burden of a company’s negligence alone. We are here to help.

Contact Walch Law today for a free and confidential consultation. Let us help you fight for the justice you and your family deserve. Your case with us can be worth a lot of money and only takes one call and no money upfront to get started.