Aerial Spraying with Malathion in Mississippi injures child

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On August 28, 1997 my then thirteen year old daughter, JoAnna, was doused with the pesticide Malathion, undiluted, from a crop duster while practicing cheerleading on the front lawn of our home.  What followed was, and continues to be, a nightmare of health problems for her and indifference from the Mississippi Agricultural Aviation Board and the Mississippi Bureau of Plant Industry.

JoAnna was hospitalized for twenty-four hours at the time of the incident.  On August 29, 1997, I found out through my own investigation that the plane was registered to Boyle Flying Service.  Boyle Flying Servied was at that time owned and operated by Bern Prewitt, Chairman of the Mississippi Agricultural Aviation Board.

On August 30, 1997 I reported the incident to an investigator with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture. The investigator met with me on September 3, 1997 but did not take the samples of clothing and other materials until he returned on September 10, 1997.  I signed an official complaint at that time.

On October 12, 1997 the Clarion Ledger ran an article on this incident and an editorial on pesticides.  On October 13, 1997 the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the Clarksdale Press Register, and others ran articles on the incident.

In late October, 1997 Mr. Pruitt appeared at my husband's business in Charleston, MS to express his concern and to assure us that he had not contacted us before because he could not locate us.  He lives about 50 miles from Charleston.  This was approximately 8 ewwks after the incident and 2 weeks after the media exposure.

In February, 1998 JoAnna was hospitalized in Leboneur Children's Medical Center in Memphis for several days and remained under the care of neurologists associated with Leboneur for about three years.

In the spring of 1998 the Mississippi Agricultural Aviation Board reviewed the case and proposed a fine of $125.  On the same day the board proposed fines ranging from $300 to $7300 for aerial pesticide drift to crops, yard plants and a fish pond.  Only our case involved human exposure.  After several requests for notification, we were not notified of the hearing, and were not allowed to present our case or even be present at the hearing.

Soon after this hearing the EPA announced that it was planning a review of this case.  In December, 1998 the EPA announced that it was planning a safety audit of the boll weevil eradication effort in Mississippi and the Southeast.

On June 6, 2001 an article in the Clarion Ledger quoted Rudy Holcomb, a crop duster and member of the Agricultural Aviation Board, as saying that in our case evidence was presented that "they were possibly running out underneath the plane intentionally."  Because we were not allowed to present our case, we were unable to refute this claim.

I have filed a suit against Boyle Flying Service and the pilot, but thier insurance company has filed bankruptcy and I have been offered $1500.  Needless to say, this pittance will not be accepted.

Keep the faith and if I may help you in any way, please feel free to call upon me.

Sandra Johnson

Charleston, MS

Phone:  662-647-3182

email:  sandrajohnsone911@yahoo.com

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