Whether you’re into gardening or simply own your own home, invasive weeds quickly become one of your most hated enemies. Plucking them all by hand or using a gardening tool is often too time consuming for the average person, not to mention painstaking, which is why weed killer remains such a popular product. However, the easy way to deal with these pesky plants comes at a price.
It should come as no surprise that weed killer is nothing more than a chemical concoction. How else could it so effortlessly destroy deep-rooted plants at their source? Although you take precautions, such as wearing gloves, long sleeves, and a face mask,, it isn’t enough to protect you from the chemicals that you’re spraying.
Surprisingly, both the environment and your body suffer the effects from toxic chemicals like glyphosate and POEA when you use weed killer. The result is a mix of altered hormones and an increased risk for cancer. Here are the true dangers of using weed killer.
Chemical #1: 2, 4-D
By now, you’ve probably heard about the popular herbicide Roundup being linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. All it took was one lawsuit for Roundup exposure in Louisiana, a top producer of soybeans and corn, to help get the ball rolling. One of the cancer-causing agents in their formula is known as 2, 4-D.
As one of the more prevalent ingredients in herbicide, 2, 4-D is found in more than just Roundup. Not only is this chemical linked to cancer, it also disrupts the endocrine system and causes both kidney and liver damage. Studies from the United States and Britain also show a link between 2, 4-D and birth defects.
This chemical is typically paired with highly carcinogenic dioxins known to alter hormones, reduce fertility, and cause birth defects themselves. Studies in the UK and Canada show that these ingredients affect wildlife as much as they do human beings.
Chemical #2: Glyphosate
Recent European and Canadian studies on glyphosate instigated the lawsuits against weed killers like Roundup. These studies directly linked non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma to the chemical along with an increased rate of miscarriages.
This general herbicide was once one of the most popular worldwide, used in 90 countries on over 150 varieties of crops. It is estimated that 36% of America’s water sources are contaminated by glyphosate, but there’s still more to learn about this substance before it’s full list of negative effects are entirely understood.
Glyphosate is often paired with POEA, an inert ingredient in herbicides. POEA damages cells found in embryos, placentas, and umbilical cords. In combination, the two become more toxic than previously thought. The two play into each other’s effects, increasing the chances for cell damage.
Seeking Legal Help From a Personal Injury Attorney
If you are a frequent user of Roundup or other weed killers, but haven’t suffered any of these side-effects, you’re lucky. If you have, then it isn’t too late to seek compensation for your suffering. Hiring a lawyer and pursuing this class action case might not reverse the damage, but it can help you get the money you deserve.
