Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or NHL, is a group of cancers that begin in lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system. The National Cancer Institute describes NHL as a disease in which malignant cells form in the lymph system, and notes that it can be indolent (slow-growing) or aggressive. Most cases start in B cells; others, such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, start in T cells. Symptoms can include swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue.

The NCI lists older age, being male, and a weakened immune system among the risk factors. Some chemical exposures have also been studied, and that is where the litigation comes in. In March 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, as "probably carcinogenic to humans," pointing to studies of exposed people that reported increases in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The EPA disagrees and concluded in 2017 that glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.

Tens of thousands of people diagnosed with NHL after using Roundup have sued Bayer, which bought Monsanto, alleging the company failed to warn about the cancer risk. The litigation has produced large jury verdicts, defense verdicts, and settlements, and questions about federal preemption of warning claims have been argued in higher courts. These are individual injury claims, not class actions.

A Roundup NHL claim generally needs a confirmed diagnosis, often with the NHL subtype from pathology, and evidence of meaningful exposure, such as years of spraying for work or on a property. See our Roundup cancer lawsuit page and our term page on herbicides.