CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Glyphosate, a herbicide often used in weed killers, increases the cancer risk of those exposed to it by 41%, a new study says.
The University of Washington studied more than 54,000 people working as licensed pesticide applicators. Anyone with constant exposure to the chemical has a higher chance of getting Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, cancer in the lymph nodes that attacks the immune system.
Palm City, a nursery in Cape Coral built in 2011, picks their weeds by hand to avoid using any chemicals. Tiffany Henson, a worker at the nursery, says weed killers and pesticides are harmful to people and the environment.
“Even the lightest of over-spray can get caught up by the wind and get onto other plants so that can kill it easy,” Henson said.
A former Southwest Florida resident, Michele Stevens, is suing Charlotte County, Monsanto (the creator of weed killer Roundup), and other companies for using Roundup near her residence, claiming the chemicals caused her to get sick.
Henson says people should be careful before buying a product without knowing what is in it.
“When you don’t know what you’re putting in your own lawn and you don’t know the science behind it… there’s always risks with it," Henson said.
