Washington State:

Teacher poisoned by pesticides in classroom

Teachers, staff, students, over a period of years exposed to Dow Dursban indoor spraying, and Claire fast kill, two varieties, one residual.  I personally have neurotoxic damage to sural, sensory and median nerves.

Unemployed.  I was tenured, but forced out of my position because of perceived threat of me informing other staff.

******  The story...

In August 1997, I began working at Rose Middle School, Explorer campus, Mukilteo School District, Everett, Washington.  I noticed insecticide spraying in August and September, but though nothing about it.  I became increasing ill immediately, but physicians, co-workers, etc did not offer any theories. During the summer break in 1998, I felt much more well, but still made no connections.  

In August 1998, I noticed pest spraying, and again in September.  I never recovered.  Neither did my coworkers, and some students. We began a building concern complaint in October.  Still no association in our minds with chemicals or pesticides.  The building had a very long history of health complaints (primarily neurologic, some immunologic) at least 15 people who have not recovered, or have died.  One teacher pneumonia at 23 years old (Without exception, all illnesses began with a chronic lung problem) a teacher who died of ALS, a teacher who died of a brain tumor, another, stomach cancer.  This is a VERY small cluster of classrooms.  

I finally took a leave of absence in January.  I felt somewhat better, and tried to return to work in March.  I rapidly deteriorated (neurologically, and lung problems).  On my last day of work in March, a co-worker, science teacher, handed me a can of CLAIRE fast kill residual.  She told me to take it to my doctor.  She had just watched me walk into a wall again.  An administrator entered my room suddenly,=.  I asked him if this was being sprayed in my room and he said no, but took the can away from me.  It was a miracle that I could focus enough to note the ingredients.  I went home and told  my husband that dioxin had been sprayed in my room.  He said no way. It had to be diazanon, which as it turns out, it was.  I did an internet search on diazanon, and can't describe the horror I felt when I read the symptoms, the chronology, and the longer lasting symptoms.  We demanded a full MSDS for every chemical.  The district omitted the Dow ant killer with chlopyrifos (my understanding epa banned in 1996 indoor spraying.  They also omitted another Clair insect killer with diazanon, and ERASE, a frequently used graffiti cleaner with TCE.

Wisha hygenist findings are alarming.  NO fresh air intake.  District had been required in 1996 to install fresh air intakes by labor and industries, but did not ever do so.  CO2 in my room is 700, tested with only four students and two teachers.  My typical student day was 17 students and three teachers (behavior disorder students).

I was REASSIGNED.  I asked for transfer applications from human resources TWICE, but did not receive them.  I asked the director of HR if I could Job Share and she said no (I hadn't used the correct legal, union term Team Teach).  I thought I had reached an agreement with HR that I would work part time at the new site, and the district would hire a part time sub.  When I arrived for work on my first day, the principal came to my class and asked me to come to the office.  I was asked to speak with HR director. "Christine, your job is not open to you unless you return full time.  And, You are required to request prior permission to be on any Mukilteo campus and talk with staff.

One thing led to another.  Time and time again, my physician tried to release me to part time work that would suit the district, but they refused.

In addition, my new assignment (remember, they all know I am very ill) was exponentially more demanding.  Only one teacher, one assistant, in a portable, with behavior disordered population, teaching ALL content areas, including math, science to multi age, multi ability students.  8 preps a day.  In the other alternative school at Rose, where I got ill, the other teacher taught math, science, health, and I taught lit, language and history.

I filed a Labor and Industries discrimination complaint, but they found for the school district.

There are many more details about coverup, targeting of me because I raised valid concerns, but I am very tired now.  If you need more, please contact me.  I am grateful for the chance to register my exposure, and what I will always view as retaliatory actions by the district in response to my well founded concerns.  

Sincerely,

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