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toxic/a real story (

updated fri 3 sep 99

 

Monona Rossol on sun 29 aug 99




------------------
In a message dated 8/25/1999
7:12:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
75054.2542@compuserve.com writes:(mel's post)

>> on our block in minneapolis....grand avenue from 26th street to
27th street... >
>> all the kids, and that is 17 of them are dead. (all before 55, most in
>> their 40's) i can list the names. all died of cancer or related illness.
>> SNIP----------------------
>>
>>
>> Interesting post. I'm going to Minneapolis to lecture at the Univ. of Mn
>> and> happen to know there are three cases of bladder cancer in the art
>> department. That's essentially a cluster. Bladder cancer is associated
>> with> the benzidine pigments and dyes. We have so many cases in Local
>> 829, United Scenic Artists, that I'm setting up a bladder cancer
>> screening project for them.
>>
>> Minneapolis also figured in misuse of methyl bromide pesticide fumigation
>> where residents were affected and one was killed.
>>
>> Monona Rossol

> Monona,

> I lived in Colonial Heights, Virginia, in the late fifties and early
> sixties. I remember the "mosquito trucks" and running along behind them in
> the fog. I've no idea how long the practice endured. Was this probably
> methyl bromide pesticide as well? Pam <


Methyl bromide is a gas, is never delivered this way, and would be
invisible if it were. Unfortunately you are describing a common practice in
the 1950's. The pesticide was DDT. I remember the trucks myself.


People then had all kinds of data showing that DDT is not "toxic." People
could be dosed with it liberally with no symptoms. This is because the
effects of DDT are long term. It gets into the body, stays in your fat
cells, and raises your risk for other kinds of long term problems you have
heard about.


This kind of liberal use of the pesticide without really looking at the long
term effects are the reason that today, every single baby born anywhere on
the planet has a DDT and DDE (breakdown product) body burden at birth. Even
children born on some south sea island have rather high body burdens because
they eat a lot of fish! There's no escape.


This really wouldn't be so bad if the only problem was with DDT. But there
are so many other substances that we are exposed to that we actually live in
a kind of strange new world. We did not evolved in this particular chemical
soup mix. And many experts now believe that this is the reason that one man
in two, and one woman in three, will get a diagnosis of cancer sometime in
their life. (Nat'l Cancer Institute figures.)


This is also why I do what I do. You can't fix this world. But you can
choose not to add more sources of toxic substances in your own and your
family's life when possible. I try, lord knows I try, in the face of much
criticism, to give people information about things they might do to reduce
their exposures.


Monona Rossol
ACTS
181 Thompson St., # 23
New York NY 10012-2586 212/777-0062

Monona Rossol on mon 30 aug 99

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----------------------------Original message----------------------------
------------------ In a message dated 8/25/99 6:12:14 PM Central Daylight
Time, 75054.2542@compuserve.com writes:

<<
Minneapolis also figured in misuse of methyl bromide pesticide fumigation
where residents were affected and one was killed.
>>
Rather emotive language; don't you think 'one died' would have been a better
choice? The use of 'killed' implies intent to harm, surely?
Let's not get carried away.

Alex (PbSiO2 Lover
----------------------------------------------------------------

Oh, just get a grip. Picky, picky.


According to the Bureau of National Affairs report, The man who was "killed"
was an artist who was working alone in his studio at night. In an adjacent
building a very big company was illegally using the pesticide. They had been
secretly doing this for years. They used an illegal formulation that did not
contain a warning odorant so their workers and the local residents wouldn't
know they were being exposed.


The night the artist was "killed," the pesticide went through a underground
tunnel 160 feet to his studio. The two fire fighters and one police officer
who found the man were also made ill by the methyl bromide.


If the violations of EPA's regulations reported are true, the actions of the
applicator were criminal in the exact sense of that word. There are fines
and jail terms that are applicable. At present, there is a class action
lawsuit against the applicator by a number of workers and residents. And the
family of the artist has a separate suit against the applicator for wrongful
death. I don't think the family would object to the word "killed."


If all the violations alleged against the applicator are true, they were
reckless in their use of the pesticide and it would only have been a
matter of time before they "killed" someone.


Monona Rossol
ACTS
181 Thompson St., # 23
NYC NY 10012-2586 212/777-0062

Monona Rossol on thu 2 sep 99

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----------------------------Original message----------------------------
------------------
In a message dated 8/30/99 12:59:36 PM Central Daylight Time,
75054.2542@compuserve.com writes:

<< In an adjacent
building a very big company was using an illegal formulation that did not
contain a warning odorant so their workers and the local residents wouldn't
know they were being exposed. >>

Fair enough, Ms. Rossol, and thanks for the extra info. Always best to keep a
cool head when dealing with such subjects though, eh? Sub Judice and all that.

Alex
-------------------------------------------------------

A cool head for chemicals and calculating risks is OK, but gross injustice is
deserves a little heat.

Monona