My name is Gracie Scarbrough, I just turned 14 years old.
I am writing this in hope and prayer that someone out there can help us and other children who have been poisoned by chemicals.
It seems so hard to believe that something you can't see or smell can turn your world upside down. If it wasn't for my parent’s faith in God and love for us children, I shudder to think how even worse it could be.
I, along with my older sister, three younger sisters, and a baby brother (plus my mom and dad) were poisoned by Chlordane and Heptachlor. One of the hardest things for me, is everywhere I look I see billboards, newspaper ads, and t.v. commercials that all say "children first" or " for the sake of the children ". I heard President Clinton say no child should be left behind. I watched President Bush's inaugural speech with my mom and sisters, where he talked about children. I saw my mom struggle to keep us from seeing her tears, as she quietly whispered! "I pray he means what he is saying". I have watched my parents fight for truth and justice.
I know my parents are trying to shield us younger ones from realizing the horribleness of what is happening. But I am old enough to see, hear, and understand. I heard the confusion and saw the terror on my mom’s face after they left the judges chambers. I have seen my big strong dad, pale and shaken. For the first time in my life, I saw my mom terrified and crying out of control, as she begged to be allowed to make a phone call. I understood something was terribly wrong with the courts. I heard my neighbor talk about his house being burnt to the ground. I tried to listen when I heard my mom on the phone with state officials, I could understand they were not being helpful. I heard the phone ring at 7:30 in the morning, and listened as my mom talked to the EPA officials. I over heard her talking about an order where if she or my dad talked to media or neighbors about the contamination they would go to jail. I heard my mom talking with a researcher, telling her someone with the EPA by the name of Layne said " I wonder what they spray in jails". I watched as my mom would make numerous phone calls a day, begging the state officials, the government officials, and environmental groups to help. The majority of time it proved to be useless. I did see however, our friends, and family surround us with love, prayer, and help.
On the other hand, I knew my parents (even though they tried to keep it from us) received warnings and threats to stop talking and go on with their lives. I over heard a scientist tell my mom she was like Karen Silkwood. My mom didn't know who Karen Silkwood was so, my uncle sent her 6 pages about her from the Internet. I heard my parents talk to scientists who agreed to help us, I heard them talk to other families who have experienced the same poisonings. I saw a man in a pick up truck following us, I watched as my older sister tried to loose him on the highway. I saw the DEQ van from our state following us. I heard our phone click, echo and go dead. I was in the van when my mom was backing up. I saw she no longer had power breaks, and we almost hit a tree. I watched her get out of the van shaken, making sure we were okay. I remember my older sister finding 2 car parts on the ground and the dogs running off into the woods growling. I heard my mom trying to reassure my older sister it was only coincidence. But later I heard my mom crying and scared talking to my uncle and a friend.
After my mom went back and offered to test a couple of houses for free in the community, she received more phone calls telling her about another house burning to the ground and the county barn burning. I watched as my older sister grew paler, I see her dropping things all the time. I watched when she couldn't move her legs to go up the stairs to our bedroom. I heard her crying softly in her pillow because her head hurt so bad. I see my six year old sister crying every night because her legs hurt. I watch my mom give her medicine and gently rub her legs until she finally falls asleep. I see the sadness in my mom’s eyes. I know her heart is breaking because so is mine. But I also see tremendous faith, strength, and love in my mom. I know she will continue along with my dad to see that no other families have to needlessly go through this pain. I know my dad and mom will not give up. Even though someone recently poisoned our puppy with Oxy chlordane, even though a new non toxic house, that we ourselves along with the help of friends built with special non toxic materials now has somehow mysteriously been contaminated. Our van somehow has been contaminated. It appears we are once again homeless. But, I know my parents will continue their search for truth and justice because I know they not only love God but also other children and have always practiced what they preach.
Will you help me? I have some questions my older sister and I would like answers to.
1. Why did the EPA supposedly banned Chlordane for all uses in the 70's except for termicide which then allowed 30 million homes to be treated in the 80's. What percentage of these homes are still at toxic levels inside the home?
2. Why, when a toy manufacture or a tire manufacture or any other manufacture make a defective product and it hurts or kills people, they have to recall that product and get rid of it. But, when a chemical company makes a defective product like Chlordane and Heptachlor that not only kills termites, but also injures and kills people, they can make a deal with the EPA to quit selling it in the U.S., but they are allowed to continue to sell their stockpiles in the U.S. and they are also allowed to make it here and then sell it to other countries. Are not children in other countries important too?
3. And why does the EPA have to buy chemical manufactures defective product stockpiles and in order to keep them from selling it. Does that mean taxpayers (like my parents) would have to purchase their defective product?
4. Is it true that 80% of the EPA 's budget comes from congress (taxpayers) and 20% comes from registering chemicals?
5. If 20% of the EPA's budget comes from registering chemicals isn't this a big conflict of interest?
6. Why does the EPA think they banned Chlordane when we meet families who have recently been poisoned by it?
7. Why have we heard reports and talk to scientists who say some peanut farmers are using it in Oklahoma on their peanut crops? They say they are getting it from Mexico. We heard of a farmer using it on his crops in California. We heard cotton farmers are using it in Mississippi. We heard of people using it on their own homes.
8. Why weren’t the American people warned about the continuing dangers of Chlordane? 9. Why do a lot of farmers and people still think Chlordane is legal?
10. In small farm towns like ours, co-ops stockpile chemicals they know will be banned. Is it still legal for these stockpiles to be sold? We can be contacted at: Sarah or Gracie Scarbrough e-mail: sgs137@hotmail.com Mailing addresses: P.O Box 545 Seminary, Ms. 39479 Phone: (228) 822-9692 (228) 697-1027
Following is my older sister's more detailed account of our story. ( We have documents to support the statements that have numbers by them. These are available upon request. We also, have names and numbers of other families in other states who are currently experiencing the same problems with Chlordane. We have names and numbers of scientists who can confirm that this is currently a huge problem for homeowners and buyers nationwide.)
My name is Sarah Scarbrough, I am 19 years old and the second eldest of 7 children. My dream was to be a professional singer, and perhaps someday sing with my sisters. I love children, I had hoped one day to get married and have lots of children. These may seem like simple goals, but - unless a miracle from God takes place - they will never be realized in my life. My family and I have been poisoned and we are very ill. People around us liken what’s happened to us, to the Erin Brockowich and Karen Silkwood stories. Here is my own story...
In July of 1998, my parents purchased a home in the deep south. Immediately after moving in, we experienced flu like symptoms. Over a short period of time the symptoms worsened to include tremors, nose bleeds, migraines, rashes, fatigue, incoordination, extreme dizziness, and seizures. We watched as our animals suffered some of the same symptoms and died. Puppies placed in our garage suffered bizarre neurological problems and died within two days. Our kittens in the garage also began to loose their balance, had extreme diarrhea, and died within 24 hours of the start of their symptoms. Within a few hours after being placed in the chicken house, our 9 week old puppies were found lying on their backs, pawing at the air, covered in their own vomit, with their eyes rolled back in their heads, as we watched in horror.
After leaving for a week our symptoms miraculously started to disappear, but we became sick again after returning. Family and friends suspected that we may be poisoned by something in our home. We contacted state agencies to test our property. They refused to get involved.
1The state informed us they were broke from a Methyl Parathion contamination on the coast and the EPA never reimbursed them. They didn't want to know about anything else, especially if it was wide spread. We sent the Ms. State Dept. of Health a list of our symptoms and were told they were not indicative of any type of pesticide or herbicide poisoning.
Meanwhile, 2my uncle, who was a technical manager of an environmental lab, advised us that our symptoms were consistent with pesticide poisoning.
After our numerous phone calls, 3they finally sent people to our property only to inform us there was nothing to test. 4Finally they did a few wipe sample tests around the house, we were told there was nothing harmful. 5During this time they were reassuring us our house was safe to live in. But my uncle advised us, there were serious inconsistencies with the state laboratory reports on the samples taken. He strongly stressed the importance of immediately evacuating the premises. 6However, an official from the State of Health continued to look for their air testing equipment and insisted there was nothing for us to worry about. They claimed, our family had been living there for this long, a few more weeks wouldn't matter. They felt my uncle was overreacting. The state was so convincing, we believed them and stayed.
On March 1st 1999, a 7state deputy epidemiologist visited us. He observed me slurring my speech, dragging my feet, complaining of nausea, and a horrible headache. He suggested my problem was psychological. Soon after he left, I doubled over, began to vomit and grabbed my head because the pain was so intense. On the way to the 8emergency room I temporally lost consciousness and upon arrival was confused and had uncontrollable tremors. The doctor opined that one doesn't get migraines out of the blue and we should definitely follow through investigating our home. When we left the hospital, I begged our family never to take me back. I was afraid I would die there. We moved out, with the exception of my 9dad, who still believed the state and mom visited back a few times with the other children. We decided to have an independent lab do a cursory review of the 10state testing.
The lab indicated they found major inaccuracies. The independent lab suggested we have the air conditioning filters tested. The results of testing revealed 11dangerous pesticides, including Chlordane, heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin, malathion, and DDT. Almost all of these are dangerous carcinogens. Other 12test results showed the house was highly contaminated with heptachlor and chlordane, showing it was sprayed twice and once within the last five years. So much contamination, in fact, even our belongings that were in the house were highly contaminated. 13We were told anything removed from the property must be returned. 14We were also advised, by our attorneys, to destroy any animals on the property, and post signs around the property warning the public of the contamination. 15Our attorneys even notified the police, sheriff, and fire departments. 16Dad was told to immediately evacuate the property and not to bring anything with him. The substances they found are banned lethal neurotoxins.
It is the opinions of many 17experts that the place needs to be condemned along with all our belongings, and hauled off to a hazardous waste site. 18We know that other homes in the area have been similarly treated with banned toxins in the last five years. But this is not limited to the deep south. Just with our own personal investigation, we have spoken to people in Washington, Maryland, Illinois and Massachusetts who have experienced first hand recent use of these banned substances. Many of these people are now experiencing the same health problems as our family, and hitting the same governmental brick wall when they try to report the contamination. What really worries us is, how many people are not even aware of the silent monster stealing away their health. Could your child’s asthma, learning disorders, or serious health problems like leukemia or cancer be linked to these deadly poisons hidden in the air in your home? Do you know in 1998 USEPA established that chlordane levels found in treated homes causes cancer. The USEPA estimates that 30 million homes have been treated with chlordane for termites. Each year millions of families move into these homes contaminated with chlordane. If it was mandatory to test the air as part of the safety inspection before you buy a home you would have the knowledge to protect yourself, and your children, who are the most at risk. A $150.00 air test could have saved my family from this terrible nightmare. But do you think the chemical industry wants you to know what they have done to the health and safety of our society?
I continue to be concerned, for seven and a half months my sisters, brother and I were exposed to 19extremely dangerous levels of heptachlor and chlordane, notoriously lethal neurotoxins. 20My home is considered to be one of the ten most contaminated that this independent lab has ever tested. 21Test results show that I am now experiencing anemia, liver damage, lung problems and fibromyalgia. 22Experts tell us the worst is yet to come, because the poisons leave our blood stream quickly, but are then stored in our fat tissue and continues to poison us. I have watched my precious infant brother be slowly poisoned, and become 23developmentally delayed. He has finally overcome his delay, but now we are told he has serious problems associated with his blood. My four beautiful sisters and I may be dealing with damage to our reproductive systems, and fatal blood disorders, along with other major health problems. Besides being homeless and having lost our health, we had to endure the loss of our pets, toys, clothes, schoolbooks, bedrooms, and the sense of security.
We do not want any other family, especially children, to be put through this horrendous ordeal. Everyone should be safe in their own home without being poisoned. When my parents tried to rescind the sale of our home, 24a federal judge claimed we devalued the property by declaring the contamination. 25They returned less than two thirds of our invested money and gave our property back to the previous owners, who turned around and sold it to another family. We believe this judge put an unconstitutional gag order on my parents with the 26promise of jail time if they tried to warn any new owners or the community of the gross contamination. Even though chlordane is banned, the 27judge regarded it "legal" to use chlordane in your own house, and then sell it to an unsuspecting family.
This is why we are asking you to please consider investigating and sharing this story. We need help from the media, our state and federal legislators and grass root groups who focus on truth and justice. There are so many ominous interconnections of people and resources it would make fertile ground for a John Grissman novel. But believe me, it is real. My family and I are living proof of a nightmare with no end in sight. Right now it's a family against the system. 28A system more willing to ignore our situation, than to stand up and take responsibility for withholding vital information the public needs to know to make decisions about their own possible contamination. We all continue to live in the dark, and face more exposed families like mine, suffering the effects of Chlordane poisoning.
Why are families still being poisoned by this banned chemical and why is it still being carelessly applied in homes and business today? According to a book published by U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, it’s because the EPA made a deal with the major manufacture, Velsicol, which allows them to sell their stockpiles of Chlordane. Since this is a defective product why isn’t it treated like all other defective products, recalled and pulled from the storehouses and destroyed? I’ve been told by EPA officials that if the EPA would have required this action then the EPA, which translates to taxpayers, would have to buy these stockpiles. Wouldn’t this be the same as the taxpayers buying back Firestone's defective tires?
We need trained investigators who know truth when they see it, and are willing to stand firm in the face of strong adversaries. If you are a seeker of justice and truth, we could sure use your help. I am begging the American people to please listen because those who are covering up need to be exposed. The only way things change, is the people have to cry out and call attention to this national problem. I am one of the town criers. I know others who have been silenced or intimidated because they were trying to get the word out. But because of the documentation and the level of our contamination, and recent proof of application of Chlordane, we believe we have the evidence to make the ruling authorities move on behalf of the people. We are the people they are supposed to be protecting. But the gag order is meant to silence us too. This is why I choose to speak out, not just on behalf of my family but for the American people. A people who need this knowledge and who can make wise decisions for their own families. We have documentation on everything shared in this recording, and this is just a small summary of what we know and have documented. Will you tell this story to the world? Thank you so much for any help you can give us.
Sincerely, Sarah & Gracie Scarbrough
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