Some of the highest documented occupational glyphosate exposures in the United States were experienced by professional landscapers, lawn care workers, and institutional groundskeepers. People in these jobs often sprayed Roundup or similar glyphosate-based herbicides daily for years — on commercial properties, parks, golf courses, school grounds, cemeteries, and roadsides. When those workers developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, B-cell lymphoma, or leukemia, they often have particularly strong Roundup cases.
Why Occupational Exposure Differs
Occupational landscaping exposure differs from residential exposure in several ways that strengthen cases:
- Duration. Daily exposure over years or decades, often spanning the entire active career.
- Volume. Workers typically applied gallons per shift rather than the small quantities used residentially.
- Direct skin contact. Mixing, spraying, and equipment cleaning involve significant direct contact, often without adequate personal protective equipment.
- Inhalation exposure. Mist drift during spraying produces significant respiratory exposure.
- Documented application records. Many commercial operations maintain records of which products were used, when, and where.
The combination of duration, volume, and documented use produces a stronger causation case for occupational plaintiffs than for residential ones.
The Cancers That Qualify
Glyphosate exposure is associated with several lymphoid cancers. The cases most commonly accepted involve:
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), including specific subtypes — see our companion guide on which NHL subtypes qualify.
- Multiple myeloma — see multiple myeloma and Roundup.
- B-cell lymphoma, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma.
- Leukemia, particularly chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and certain other types.
What Landscaper Cases Require
- Documented diagnosis of a qualifying cancer.
- Substantial occupational exposure history. Years of professional landscaping, groundskeeping, golf course maintenance, lawn care, or similar work.
- Documentation that glyphosate-based products were used. Employer records, product lists, supplier invoices, or contemporaneous worker testimony.
- Lack of significant alternative cancer risk factors that would compete with the glyphosate causation theory.
What to Bring to a Free Case Review
If you worked as a landscaper, groundskeeper, or in lawn care and developed one of the qualifying cancers, helpful materials to bring include:
- Names and addresses of past employers and the dates of employment.
- Job titles and a general description of what spraying activities you performed.
- Any product lists, MSDS sheets, training records, or documentation you have from the employer.
- Medical records confirming the cancer diagnosis.
- The names of any coworkers who could corroborate the exposure history.
You do not need to have all of this in hand to call. The lawyer's job is to help develop the file.
If You Worked in Landscaping and Were Diagnosed
Free, confidential case review. Occupational landscaper cases often have strong causation evidence and substantial damages picture.
- Read about who qualifies for a Roundup lawsuit: Who Qualifies.
- Read about NHL subtypes: NHL Subtypes.
- Read about multiple myeloma: Multiple Myeloma and Roundup.
Free case review. No fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Sources
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) — Monograph 112 on glyphosate. iarc.who.int
- Agricultural Health Study — NIH cohort study of pesticide applicators. aghealth.nih.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Glyphosate registration. epa.gov
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration — Worker exposure to pesticides. osha.gov
- National Cancer Institute — Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and pesticide exposure research. cancer.gov