Roundup Poisoning Exposure Symptoms

Symptoms of RoundupⓇ Poisoning

The signs of RoundupⓇ poisoning can include: 

• Abdominal cramps
• Anxiety
• Coma
• Convulsions
• Difficulty breathing
• Kidney failure
• Low blood pressure
• Mouth and throat irritation
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Slow heart rate
• Weakness, headache, dizziness, and drowsiness

These symptoms usually begin clearing up within hours but could have complications. For example, kidney failure can be fatal if you don’t receive treatment. You may require dialysis or even a kidney transplant. 

Treatment for RoundupⓇ Exposure

Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) for advice, regardless of how much the person consumed. They can let you know whether or not you need to go to the emergency room. When you call Poison Control or the emergency department, make sure you know what the person swallowed, when they swallowed it, and how much of it they swallowed. 

If the person consumed a large amount of glyphosate, take them to the emergency room to be safe. At the ER, treatment may include: 

• ECGs and X-rays
• Intubation
• Irrigating the skin
• IV treatments
• Medication therapy (both to treat symptoms and to reverse the effects)
• Oxygen treatment
• Urine and blood tests

Effects of Glyphosate Exposure

The effects of glyphosate exposure depend on how long you used RoundupⓇ and how you were exposed. Acute exposure through consumption can lead to serious conditions, such as coma or kidney failure. 

Long-term exposure can lead to the development of several different types of cancers, including: 

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• B- and T-cell lymphoma
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Hairy cell leukemia
• Mantle cell lymphoma

How Glyphosate Exposure Occurs

RoundupⓇ exposure can occur in several ways:

• Consuming orally: This can happen if someone puts glyphosate into a different container and accidentally drinks it. (Unfortunately, several cases have been reported of people accidentally ingesting herbicide stored in soda bottles.) 
• Breathing in glyphosate: Farmers, groundskeepers, and homeowners can breathe in glyphosate while spraying their crops or yards with RoundupⓇ. 
• Skin exposure: Farmers, groundskeepers, and homeowners can also be exposed to glyphosate via skin contact.

How to Avoid Glyphosate Exposure

You can avoid exposure to RoundupⓇ by: 

• Always double checking bottles before drinking from them 
• Wearing gloves, long sleeves, long pants, closed-toed shoes, and a mask when spraying RoundupⓇ (Be sure to wash your hands before removing your mask.)
• Avoid walking over areas you have sprayed with RoundupⓇ for at least 24 hours (This is especially important for children and pets.)
• Not eating, drinking, or smoking while applying RoundupⓇ
• Always wash your hands thoroughly after spraying RoundupⓇ

What to Do If You Were Exposed to RoundupⓇ

In some cases, accidents happen and you could end up covered in RoundupⓇ. In other cases, you may just get RoundupⓇ on your hands. In either case, there are a few things you can do to mitigate the effects of the exposure:

• Rinse your skin thoroughly. You should rinse with cool water for at least 15 minutes. If you are covered in RoundupⓇ, remove your clothing immediately, avoiding getting the herbicide in your eyes or mouth or transferring more herbicide onto your skin. Jump right into the shower and rinse your entire body. If you got RoundupⓇ in your eyes or mouth, call Poison Control.
• Gently wash your skin. Do not scrub. 
• Place your contaminated clothing in a resealable bag.  
• If you are experiencing symptoms of RoundupⓇ poisoning, go to the emergency room. 
• Keep copies of any documentation (e.g., your RoundupⓇ purchase receipts, your medical bills). 
• Get in touch with a RoundupⓇ lawsuit lawyer.  

If you drank RoundupⓇ, do not make yourself throw up unless the Poison Control Center or a doctor says to. Call Poison Control immediately to learn your next steps.

What Is the Danger of Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in RoundupⓇ that makes it so popular. However, glyphosate is a dangerous chemical that has been linked to many different types of cancer. 

Unfortunately, proving this can be difficult. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says there is no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer. However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as “probable carcinogenic to humans” in 2015. This classification, Group 2A, is the second highest certainty for a chemical’s probability to cause cancer. 

The IARC based this classification on “limited” evidence of cancer in humans and “sufficient” evidence of cancer in experimental animals. 

An analysis published in Mutation Research – Reviews in Mutation Research (MRR) also found that glyphosate exposure increased a person’s risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by 41 percent. 

How Long Has Monsanto Known About the Dangers RoundupⓇ Poses?

It’s possible that Monsanto has known about the dangers of RoundupⓇ for decades. A 1986 JAMA article noted an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The study noted that farmers exposed to herbicides for more than 20 days a year had a six-times higher risk of contracting non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma than non-farmers. Those who frequently mixed or applied the herbicides themselves had an eight-times higher risk of contracting non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 

Both Monsanto and Bayer, which bought Monsanto in 2018, have claimed that glyphosate is harmless. 

Can I Sue for the Effects of RoundupⓇ Exposure? 

In most cases, you likely can’t sue for the effects of RoundupⓇ poisoning—unless you faced severe complications. 

However, you may be able to sue if you believe your RoundupⓇ exposure caused you to develop cancer. If you used RoundupⓇ for a prolonged period of time (several years), you may have a case.

Our team can discuss your potential case with you and whether you might be able to hold Bayer liable for your: 

• Medical bills, such as emergency treatment, hospitalization, prescription medications, oxygen therapy, and ongoing care
• Lost wages if you needed to take time off work to recover from your RoundupⓇ exposure or poisoning
• Lost earning capacity if a more severe complication of RoundupⓇ poisoning or exposure affects your ability to work long-term
• Pain and suffering for any emotional or physical pain the exposure and poisoning caused you
• Inconvenience
• Mental anguish
• Lost enjoyment of life
• Other non-economic damages
• Punitive damages

If you lost a loved one due to RoundupⓇ exposure-related cancer, you could file a wrongful death claim against Bayer. Our team can help you determine whether you qualify. 

Our law firm partners can determine how long you have to file a RoundupⓇ lawsuit. We recommend you get started right away so that we can protect your rights and take the burden off your shoulders. You should be focused on dealing with the effects of your RoundupⓇ exposure, not how you’ll take on a major corporation that has denied liability for years.