Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Activist Erin Brockovich looking into teens' mystery ailment

Sharon Jayson, and Elizabeth Weise
1-26-12
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-01-26/new-york-school-mystery-disease/52804710/1

Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has started her own investigation into the mysterious illness that's caused symptoms of facial tics and verbal outbursts among teenagers in Le Roy, N.Y., in light of new evidence about a toxic chemical spill more than 40 years ago that caused water and ground contamination nearby.

Brockovich gained notoriety with a 2000 movie (Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts) about her efforts to expose a toxic chemical coverup in California.

She told USA TODAY on Thursday that after families of affected teens and other community members asked her to look into the Le Roy case, she has spent the past week studying federal and state reports of a 1970 train derailment that spilled cyanide and an industrial solvent called trichloroethene within 3 miles of the high school attended by the 12 girls who started reporting neurological symptoms last fall. Three other teens, including one boy, are reportedly experiencing similar symptoms.

A statement issued by the school district said "medical and environmental investigations have not uncovered any evidence that would link the neurological symptoms to anything in the environment or of an infectious nature." An indoor-air-quality report and a mold report are posted on the school district's website.

"When I read reports like this that the New York Department of Health and state agencies were well-aware of the spill and you don't do water testing or vapor extraction tests, you don't have an all-clear," says Brockovich, of Los Angeles.

According to a 1999 report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, one ton of cyanide crystals spilled to the ground in the derailment, along with 35,000 gallons of trichloroethene. The crystals were removed but the trichloroethene was absorbed into the ground.

Brockovich says she has received about 100 e-mails regarding the girls' symptoms and the diagnosis of stress-related "conversion disorder."

"We don't have all the answers, but we are suspicious," Brockovich says. "They have not ruled everything out yet. The community asked us to help and this is what we do."

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
I'll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later. Many thanks
My site we buy houses fast for cash PA

Anonymous said...

This piece of writing is in fact a good one it assists new net people, who are wishing for blogging.
My site: FinderHostel.com

Anonymous said...

Keep on writing, great job!
Feel free to visit my site : click the following web page

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on mail server. Regards
Also see my page - neucopia

Anonymous said...

When some one searches for his required thing, thus he/she wants
to be available that in detail, therefore that thing is maintained over here.
Here is my web page ... neucopia review

Anonymous said...

you're really a just right webmaster. The web site loading speed is amazing. It kind of feels that you are doing any unique trick. Moreover, The contents are masterwork. you've done a wonderful task in this matter!
Look at my web page ... endurance drink

Anonymous said...

My spouse and I stumbled over here different web page and thought I should check things out.

I like what I see so now i'm following you. Look forward to looking into your web page repeatedly.

Review my blog post; Hotgirlsexcam.Com

Anonymous said...

I am sure this article has touched all the internet users, its really really
pleasant post on building up new blog.

My webpage ... xvideos