You may be eligible to file a lawsuit and pursue financial compensation if you or a loved one developed cancer after being exposed to the herbicide atrazine.
A growing body of scientific research links atrazine with a potentially increased risk of developing cancers such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Key Takeaways:
- The IARC, in November 2025, classified atrazine as a probable human carcinogen with a documented link to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Farm workers, pesticide applicators, groundskeepers and people who drank contaminated water face the highest exposure risk.
- Individual personal injury lawsuits are now being pursued against Syngenta over cancer caused by atrazine exposure.
- Plaintiffs in atrazine lawsuits may qualify for financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, wrongful death and more.
Call our experienced hazardous exposure lawyers today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one developed cancer after being exposed to atrazine.
Why Atrazine Victims Choose Our Lawyers
- While a lot of hazardous exposure law firms accept as many cases as possible without regard to if they have the manpower to handle them all, our responsive legal team is fully staffed so we can provide you with 24/7 availability, reliable communication and frequent case updates.
- We have been trusted since 1990 to handle hazardous exposure lawsuits such as atrazine lawsuits, paraquat lawsuits and Roundup lawsuits.
- Our atrazine lawyers provide free consultations and will charge you no legal fee until we win, as our only fee is a percentage of any compensation we recover.
- We have a high-stakes litigation team with the experience handling large hazardous exposure cases and the comprehensive resources to take on large weed killer manufacturers like Syngenta and win.
- While a lot of hazardous exposure law firms are all too willing to settle cheaply for a quick bucks, our trial-ready representation is willing and ready to fight for you in court when defendants aren’t willing to provide fair settlement offers.
- We and our legal teams have recovered over $750 million for hazardous exposure clients and other injured clients.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. All cases are unique and results depend on cases’ specific facts.
Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658.
Table of Contents
- What Is Atrazine and Why Is It Dangerous?
- Who Is at Risk of Atrazine Exposure?
- Does Atrazine Cause Cancer?
- Do I Qualify for an Atrazine Lawsuit?
- What Compensation Can Atrazine Victims Recover?
- How Long Do I Have to File an Atrazine Lawsuit in California?
- FAQs
- When to Contact an Atrazine Lawsuit Attorney
What Is Atrazine and Why Is It Dangerous?
Atrazine is a chlorinated triazine herbicide used to kill broadleaf and grassy weeds and crops such as sweet corn, field corn, sugarcane and sorghum.
It is the second most widely used herbicide in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The herbicide has been banned in over 60 countries. The European Union prohbited it in 2004 due to endocrine-disrupting properties and persistent groundwater contamination.
Atrazine is water-soluble and highly mobile. Water systems serving roughly 30 million Americans contain detectable levels of atrazine because of agricultural runoff, according to Environmental Working Group.
The IARC, in November 2025, classified Atrazine as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” It cited evidence linking it to non-Hodgkin lymphoma in humans and sufficient evidence of cancer in experimental animals.
Who Is at Risk of Atrazine Exposure?
Those who are at risk of exposure to atrazine include:
- Agricultural workers and licensed pesticide applicators
- Individuals and families who live near farms
- Groundskeepers
- Atrazine manufacturing plant workers
Exposure routes include:
- Skin absorption during application
- Inhalation near spray areas
- Long-term ingestion of contaminated drinking water
Does Atrazine Cause Cancer?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, in 2025, classified atrazine as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans,’ publishing its findings in The Lancet Oncology. This is based on limited evidence for cancer in humans as well as sufficient evidence for cancer in experimental animals and strong mechanistic evidence in experimental systems. This has implications regarding ongoing litigation that is related to health risks which are associated with the herbicide.
A 1993 study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health found that atrazine use was associated with an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
A 2024 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that atrazine exposure was associated with elevated risks of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, pharyngeal cancer, kidney cancer and aggressive prostate cancer.
There is evidence suggesting weak associations between exposure to atrazine and a higher risk of developing ovarian, breast and prostate cancers, according to the ATSDR’s toxicological profile for atrazine.
Do I Qualify for an Atrazine Lawsuit?
You may qualify for an atrazine cancer lawsuit if:
- You or a loved one were exposed to atrazine over a period of time and were later diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another cancer
- Your diagnosis followed documented atrazine exposure, including occupational and environmental exposure
We also file wrongful death lawsuits for families who have lost loved ones due to atrazine-linked cancer.
You do not need to have filed a formal complaint with the EPA or OSHA to pursue a lawsuit.
Contact us for a free case evaluation to determine if your exposure history and diagnosis support a claim.
What Compensation Can Atrazine Victims Recover?
The value of your atrazine claim will depend on:
- The severity of your illness
- The strength of your exposure history
- Your documented financial losses
Compensation generally ranges from tens of thousands of dollars for less severe cases to $1 million or more for cases involving serious illness, long-term disability or wrongful death.
These are estimates. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on evidence and case-specific facts.
Our law firm can help you recover compensation for:
Medical Bills
We can help you recover compensation for all past and future medical bills related to your cancer diagnosis, including compensation for the costs of past and future cancer treatment, ER visits, hospital stays, doctor visits, medical treatments, medical tests, medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation and more.
Lost Wages
Our firm can help you recover compensation for any wages you’re unable to earn due to being too sick to work or needing to take time off from work to see doctors.
Loss of Earning Capacity
We can help you recover compensation for any loss or reduction of earning capacity resulting from a disability caused by your cancer.
Pain and Suffering
Our firm can help you recover compensation for the physical pain, mental suffering, emotional distress and lost quality of life caused by your cancer.
Wrongful Death
If you’ve lost a loved one to cancer caused by atrazine, we can help you recover compensation for:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Any medical bills your loved one incurred before passing
- Any pain and suffering your loved one endured before passing
- The loss of your loved one’s love, companionship, income, household services and spousal benefits
Punitive Damages
We may be able to recover punitive damages on your behalf if Syngenta is found to have concealed known risks about atrazine.
How Long Do I Have to File an Atrazine Lawsuit in California?
California’s statute of limitations for personal injury and product liability lawsuits is generally two years from the date that you discovered that your cancer was caused by exposure to atrazine.
A wrongful death claim must typically be filed within two years that you discovered your loved one’s cancer was caused by atrazine exposure.
You can preserve your ability to gather evidence, retain expert witnesses and meet filing deadlines by acting quickly and calling us today for a free consultation.
FAQs
Is Atrazine Banned in the US?
Atrazine is not banned in the United States.
The EPA, as of early 2026, is facing legal actions which demand stricter regulations regarding atrazine because of ongoing contamination concerns.
California, in 2016, added the herbicide to its Proposition 65 toxic chemicals list, listing it as causing reproductive toxicity and developmental toxicity.
The European Union banned atrazine in 2004 after it found that it regularly exceeded regulatory limits for groundwater contamination. This raised concerns regarding its impact on the environment and human health.
Atrazine was banned in 63 countries as of 2024. This includes the European Union, which entirely phased it out in 2007 because of excessive groundwater contamination.
What Is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that originates in the lymphatic system. It is characterized by the abnormal growth of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.
Symptoms can include:
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Unexplained weight loss
- Night sweats
How Is Atrazine Exposure Proven in a Lawsuit?
Evidence typically includes employment and payroll records documenting work as a pesticide applicator, farmer or groundskeeper.
Drinking water testing records, pesticide purchase receipts, spray logs and employer safety records are also used.
Expert toxicologist testimony connecting your exposure history to your cancer diagnosis is a central component of these cases.
Our attorneys can help gather and organize all relevant documentation.
Is There Atrazine in Tap Water?
Yes, atrazine is frequently detected in U.S. drinking water, especially in agricultural regions which are near corn or sorghum fields.
Seasonal spikes of atrazine contamination in drinking water may happen, especially in late spring and early summer. Atrazine levels sometimes exceed the federal legal limit by 3 to 7 times. However, these exceedances are often not reported to communities that are affected, such as communities with community water systems near agricultural crops.
The maximum contaminant level (MCL) regarding atrazine in U.S. drinking water is set at 3 parts per billion (ppb). This is 30 times higher than the European Union’s precautionary standard, which is 0.1 ppb for pesticides in groundwater.
Unfortunately, EPA’s atrazine monitoring program only tests atrazine concentrations in a limited number of utilities, meaning a lot of water may unknowingly contain atrazine pollution.
Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one developed cancer due to atrazine in your tap water.
Can Atrazine Be Filtered Out of Water?
Yes.
Oregon Health Authority states that treatment options exist for removing atrazine from private wells, noting that the most commonly used method is granular activated carbon filtration. The agency recommends using treatment systems that are certified by organizations meeting testing procedures established by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
NSF/ANSI 53 and 58 filters are capable of removing atrazine from water, according to a National Resources Defense Council report.
Reverse osmosis filter systems can be effective at removing pesticides such as atrazine, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Call us today for a free case evaluation if you or a loved one developed cancer because of atrazine in your tap water.
Does Boiling Water Remove Atrazine?
No. Boiling water does not remove atrazine.
In fact, boiling water can concentrate atrazine by evaporating water, making it more dangerous.
Effective removal requires filtering the water via reverse osmosis or through activated carbon.
Contact us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one developed cancer due to atrazine in tap water.
Can I Sue Syngenta If My Exposure Was Through Drinking Water?
Yes. Individuals who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another atrazine-linked cancer after long-term exposure to contaminated drinking water in agricultural areas may have viable claims.
These cases require establishing the level and duration of exposure through water testing records and historical contamination data.
Contact us for a free case evaluation to discuss if your circumstances support a claim.
What Does Atrazine Do to Humans?
Research has linked atrazine exposure with reproductive issues. This includes reduced sperm quality in men as well as irregular menstrual cycles in women, in addition to multiple birth defects in infants like gastroschisis.
A significant amount of research suggests the herbicide is an endocrine disruptor, with its endocrine disruption possibly causing irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, impaired fetal growth, and increased risks of breast cancer and prostate cancer.
A study found that women who live in areas with high atrazine use were 5 times more likely to report having irregular menstrual cycles compared with those in areas with low atrazine use, a statistically significant increase. This indicates a possible link between reproductive health and atrazine exposure, and potentially indicates that the herbicide disrupts hormones.
Elevated exposure to atrazine has been associated with a higher risk of low birth weight in newborns and preterm delivery, especially when exposure happens during pregnancy.
Atrazine has been classified as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’ by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This is based upon limited evidence in humans as well as sufficient evidence in experimental animals.
Lawsuits are currently investigating links between significant atrazine exposure and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, especially among agricultural workers and farmers.
What Are Atrazine’s Effects on the Environment?
Research suggests atrazine may pose significant environmental risks, particularly to aquatic ecosystems and wildlife.
Atrazine is one of the most common pesticide contaminants in U.S. water bodies. The U.S. Geological Survey reports it as the most prevalent pesticide in more than 10,000 water samples analyzed.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found that atrazine contaminates streams, rivers and lakes at harmful levels across one-eighth of the continental U.S., affecting about 250 million acres and possibly harming aquatic life.
Atrazine is still the pesticide groundwater contaminant which is most commonly found in the EU after almost 20 years of it not being used there.
Atrazine is linked with reproductive system damage in wildlife. The EPA estimates that it probably harms over 1,000 of the United States’ most endangered animals and plants, representing 56 percent of all endangered species across the country.
Atrazine exposure at levels which are as low as 0.1 parts per billion (ppb) has been found to harm reproductive organ development regarding amphibians. This potentially leads to significant population declines over generations.
The EPA’s preliminary ecological risk assessment regarding atrazine found that levels of concern regarding chronic risk are exceeded by as much as 62, 198 and 22 times for fish, mammals and birds, respectively.
Environmental groups argue that the EPA’s reapproval of atrazine violates the Endangered Species Act via harming numerous threatened species.
Lawsuits now allege that people have developed cancer due to atrazine in drinking water.
Have There Been Atrazine Lawsuits?
There was a landmark class-action settlement involving water contamination as well as recent litigation regarding cancer risks and regulatory oversight.
In 2012, dozens of United States water utility companies filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Syngenta. It alleged that the company knew about atrazine contaminating local drinking water, leading to a settlement of $105 million.
Advocacy groups sued the EPA in 2020 after it reapproved the atrazine usage. They claimed the agency failed to fulfill responsibilities to confirm and monitor that the herbicide didn’t pose risks to public health via water contamination.
Legal actions involving atrazine mostly focus on class action lawsuits against manufacturers over water contamination and challenges against the EPA over regulatory oversight. However, individual lawsuits are also being filed by those who have developed cancer after being exposed to atrazine.
When to Contact an Atrazine Lawsuit Attorney
Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one developed cancer after being exposed to atrazine.
You may qualify for financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, wrongful death and more, and we will charge you no legal fee until we win your case.
