Husband exposed to toxic legacy of dursban, diazinon, dieldren and chlordane while working on old house now diagnosed with ALS 

(amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (often called
Lou Gehrig's disease)

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My husband Randy was dx'd January 2001 with ALS. At that time, he was still a sports broadcaster, a career he had enjoyed for 18 years, running 5 miles a day and working out regularly. However, in September 2000 he had been exposed to pesticides and began slurring his words two days later. He had been visiting his mother, who was dying of lung cancer, never having smoked, and began cleaning up a water leak caused by a break in the condensation line. He spent many hours in a very confined space below the a/c where the air-intake was cleaning up the water with towels and then using a wet vac. He remembers smelling chemicals but never thought life threatening. Randy was very much like a soldier - a determined, take charge individual and knew he had to help his parents. Randy had many symptoms throughout the course of this horrible disease process that never made sense to us, especially following the exposure, and so we pursued every avenue imaginable to try and seek help. When he remembered the pesticide incident that had occurred it was right after the doctors had made a dx and we couldn't get anyone to help us. We were told it was not their level of expertise, and even if the pesticides had caused the als there was nothing they could do. I have learned a great deal about the damage pesticides can do to a human body and know they hurt my husband. I believe he would not have gotten sick had he not been exposed to pesticides. He was extremely healthy, rarely drank, never did drugs, always worked out and did not show any symptoms prior to the exposure.

We requested an investigation from the FL Dept. of Health and the Dept. of Agriculture. We also sent samples of what was left in the air intake to another lab and it was confirmed that what Randy was exposed to that had been soaked in the water he was cleaning up in the air-intake area and throughout several closets was dursban, diazinon, dieldren and chlordane. Chlordane was also found in the air vents and we felt contributed to his mother having contracted lung disease. This air is sucked up, blows out the vents and is then recalculated. His mother had been breathing this air on a regular basis.

I'm telling you all this because I have always felt Randy's symptoms were very similar the the stories I had read about the Gulf War soldiers. Do you know of anyone that could possibly help us? I believe als is contracted by different means but in Randy's case it was the pesticides. Do you know of any success stories regarding treatment? Could you share any info. with me that might help us or shed some light? Randy and I have two boys  - 13 and 14, and as you are well aware, every day is worse than the day before. He suffers greatly, has lost everything and is faced with dying.  I appreciate any input you may have. Thank you for your time.

Johnna Ruditz

UPDATE:

I wrote many months ago concerning my husband, Randy Ruditz. He passed away May 31, 2003 after being diagnosed in January 2001 with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In September 2000 Randy was exposed to dursban, diazinon, deildren and chlordane while cleaning up an a/c condensation line leak. Several days later he was slurring his words. It has been a nightmare come true for our family. Please be careful when using pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. 

Sincerely,

Johnna Ruditz

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(Note from Get Set.  Before purchasing a home (or working on one) please read this article by Dr. Robert Simon:  Home Buyers Alert: What May Be in the Home You Are Buying?)

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Please forward my e-mail address to this family. I had a serious exposure and can certainly sympathize with this family. One doctor who I feel saved my life is Dr. Gunnar Heuser, he’s on the net, I believe its www.toxgun.com. There’s another doctor in Santa Barbara that recently also has been helpful. A friend of mine lived on a farm with her family when she was young. Her mother got ALS and they now know it was related to the chemicals she was exposed to. 

Michele Smylie-Clark

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