Dow AgrChemical... Pests at the Price of Human Suffering
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From: "Michele Smylie Clark" <smylieclark@yahoo.com>
Thought I’d send you my own experience. My writing abilities are still very impaired so feel free to edit anything that doesn’t make any sense.
My energy is still pretty limited, but know the importance of educating as many people as I can of the pesticide risks. I’m working with a local environmental group and if you have any contacts with injured people in the Ventura County, California area please give them my e-mail address. We’re trying to document as many local cases as possible to see if maybe we can at least get some kind of county ordinance and support. Any suggestions are truly appreciated.
Thanks again for all your time, efforts and passion for such an important issue.
VENTURA COUNTY
On May 11th, 2000 my life changed in an instant. I was late for a friend’s funeral and was headed for my car in my own driveway. I heard the helicopter approaching as it was spraying the fields behind my home. In total ignorance of any kind of danger, all I remember thinking as the helicopter crossed my path, was annoyance as the wind messed up my hair. Never even imagining that something that appeared so insignificant would ultimately lead to what appears to be a lifetime disability. My brain, eyes, CNS, and respiratory system, and liver were all severely damaged.
Within a couple of hours my eyes were swollen. The next day my whole head was swollen with this unexplainable burn on my face and left shoulder. I felt achy, and had this terrible migraine, and this very distinct pain in my throat. Swallowing was unbearable. By the time I sought medical help I had no facial structure, loss of balance, and had literally ballooned with fifteen pounds of overnight weight, which increased to a thirty-pound weight gain within two weeks. My heart, kidney and liver were all in a compromised state. My local doctors were unfamiliar with pesticide poisonings, and assumed I was experiencing an allergic reaction. They asked me to get the safety data sheet of the chemical sprayed that morning which I promptly did. It was reviewed, and my doctor’s didn’t seem the least bit concerned. The chemical I was sprayed with that day was Agri-mek, a chemical I guess in the realm of pesticides is suppose to be relatively benign. All I can say is thank god I didn’t get sprayed with something more toxic, there were many days I feared I would not live through this ordeal and am painfully aware of the likely hood that if I live long enough this accident will be contributory to my demise.
Within two weeks my face finally stopped peeling off in sheets, the aches and pains subsided along with all the other discomforts. As far as I knew I had just had a nasty allergic reaction, and what was the possibility I would be sprayed by another helicopter? Neither my doctors nor I were informed that the next 90-120days were crucial that I not come in contact with any pesticides. Or that pesticides just being sprayed in my vicinity could cause additional injury.
Six weeks later while dropping my then five year-old off at school a helicopter was dusting the fields a substantial distance away. It was hot and windy but I had no idea that a helicopter spraying in the vicinity could possibly trigger a secondary reaction. By evening the swelling had returned, and that very distinct and excruciating pain returned in my throat. Such a distinct almost choking type pain that you never forget.
When I arrived at the ER the doctor was not interested in a pesticide connection. As far as she was concerned my throat didn’t even look inflamed visually. She ordered a Demerol shot and advised me to see my doctor in the morning, dismissing any seriousness. Within a half hour of the injection, the pain intensity magnified, I started having alarming heart palpitations. It quickly became evident I was experiencing a serious drug interaction as well. Within hours I started reacting to numerous chemicals; my own hair spray, bus exhaust, cigar smoke, you name it, with an anaphylactic response. (A life threatening response that can cause total throat closure).
During another acute attack just days later I was taken back to the same ER physician. She again was uninterested with my pesticide history, and unfamiliar with common problems associated with chemical exposures. Realizing that I was experiencing some kind of chemical sensitivity problem I refused all treatment until poison control or an expert was consulted. For reasons still being investigated I ended up with another shot of Demerol. Within minutes my world went black. I couldn’t finish full sentences, and would ramble on and on, not remembering what I’d just said. My eyes would literally not open. I became combative, irrational, and a host of neurological problems manifested. My family and primary care physician unfortunately were not informed of the serious drug interaction or how opiates combined with pesticide poisonings can exacerbate the initial condition.
Opiates further depress the CNS and respiratory system, accelerating many of the poisoning affects. They also release histamine, which can be a further complication during an acute attack. The physicians were so unfamiliar with the typical neurological changes that occur during this type of poisoning that I almost was admitted into a mental hospital instead of receiving the emergency treatment I so desperately needed within that crucial time period. This mistake could very easily of been a fatal one, as my body could not tolerate another chemical reaction.
Even though Ventura County is considered one of the highest risk counties of the state of California for these types of agriculture accidents, apparently few physicians in our area have ever been trained on how to recognize or treat these serious poisoning situations, or even that there is such a risk. It took countless phone calls to numerous state agencies, and university hospitals to finally find a doctor who specialized in these complex cases. This took me nearly four additional weeks, a very long time when your brain and other vital organs are being deprived of needed oxygen.
Dr. Heuser in Agoura, Ca who’s a neurologist/toxicologists saved my life. He sent me down to UCLA for brain spects, and numerous toxicology and neurological testing. I was diagnosed with a hypoxic and toxic encephalopathy, and immune dysfunction. I now have blood indicators that show a very high risk for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS, Lupus, autoimmune dysfunctions, etc. Without frequent hyberbaric oxygen treatment, and other measures, I’m unable to open my eyes, or function at even a limited ability. My symptoms today nearly two years later are typical of chemical induced Parkinson’s. I have severe ADD, memory problems, lack of focus, energy, tremors, muscle spasms, etc.
Prior to this accident I ran my own company, took care of a very busy family, and had lots of energy to spare. Now I feel lucky to be able to drive on my good days, or to do some of the most basic functions for family and self.
Through this journey I’ve met many other pesticide victims. I know how lucky I am to be alive, and that my then five year old was not with me that particular morning. My family has learned the hard way the necessity of educating yourself as to indoor toxins as well as what your being forced to breathe outside your home.
Being able to find knowledgeable physicians in an emergency is another MUST. The most condensed version of what to do during an acute poisoning is the following site; www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic346.htm
Know when to call poison control; do not count on your local hospital to be trained on how to properly treat your emergency.
It is my hope that my story will be instrumental in saving others from such an experience. And that ER personnel as well as physicians in “high risk” areas will see the necessity of taking the basic training, in Pesticide, Recognition, and treatment. There are no words to express the physical, emotional and ultimate financial impact that these types of injuries cause your family, friends and self. These injuries are preventable and we all need to do are part in voicing our concerns so that changes are made that protect our families and selves future health.About Abamectin: http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/24d-captan/abamectin-ext.html; http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/insect-mite/abamectin-bufencarb/abamectin/abamectin-mcl.html
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