What to Do Following an Exposure to "Registered" Pesticides
As those of you with pesticide intolerance know all so well this is the SPRAY season. It is time that we ALL complain about this stupid and destructive behavior that is damaging us all.
Subject: What to Do Following an Exposure to "Registered" Pesticides....................
Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 08:37:30 -0400
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulationcc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you would like to read the following e-mail I just received from Don Paladin:
Hi All, This very informational email was posted on Maggie's and Nodi's list. As those of you with pesticide intolerance know all so well this is the SPRAY season. It is time that we ALL complain about this stupid and destructive behavior that is damaging us all. Susan makes some very good suggestions. I know now what I will do when the City Public Works begins its weed abatement program. Take care, Don Paladin WSMCSN co-moderator
--- In MCS-CI-exile@y..., jannarone@a... wrote: To the group and for wide dissemination:
I have taken my own advice following an exposure to what turned out to be Bayer's Tempo Wettable Powder, called Cyfluthrin on Monday. I am going to try to communicate what we all should do, in order to have ourselves included in pesticide complaints, should exposures happen.
--Symptoms
I began to burn over my face, neck and arms, I became dyslexic for a while, weak and my hands were a bit swollen. My vision was blurry. My mouth was very dry. By late evening my feet had swollen considerably--an event I never experienced except during late pregnancy. Yesterday I was in bed almost all day. Today I am suffering from dehydration and I don't have energy. My hypertension is significant. As luck would have it, the next thing a person is going to have to do, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING AN EXPOSURE is call the pesticide applicator and report the exposure. (Bathing off substances if an interesting topic, because you destroy "evidence" but I think detection methods don't pick up "evidence" so bathe first.) I think it is Thursday and I still feel sick and could not cook last night. I have forced myself to use the computer regarding some work I am doing, however.
Obtain the Name of the Company from the Truck
The driver had no names on his truck and I did manage to squint my eyes and see the word "DEAD" as the last part of the phone number on the truck. I then found the rest of the phone number and called. The phone call was received by one irate person.
Getting Information from the Driver
The driver/sprayer did not answer as if he were a pesticide company at all. I said, "Is this a pesticide company I am reaching." He responded "Oh, ho, ho, ho, we know who you are, we ALL know who you are. You are suing me right? You are going to sue ChemLawn and all of us..." The ranting went on for about ten minutes regarding how all pesticide companies know who I am. "We all know who you are," was said about five times. The ranting was loud and intended to scare me I would presume. I am not above being scared, but at this point I calmly asked "I need the name of what you sprayed because I have reacted to it." Eventually the driver screamed at the top of his lungs numbers, names and how to spell them, poison control, Structural Pest Control's number, a Poison Center and the number for the Texas Department of Agriculture. He also yelled that he was recording me, that I should not be outside on a day this polluted and that he was sure I was not exposed because he and the homeowner checked and did not see me outside. My 9' hedge confines my trash bins and I was, in fact behind them, only momentarily. So, no matter how loud he shouts, I do have a right to be in my own yard. I believe his comments constitute "harassment" but that is neither here nor there.
Ignoring Insults and Other Harassment from the Person Who Sprayed
He had begun screaming loudly at this time. He knows the law, so he screamed numbers at me, after I insisted that he park his vehicle and speak to me on his mobile phone. He told me initially he could not talk to me because he was driving. I calmly insisted that I needed the name of the product, the numbers to call and I would like him to provide them for me. He replied, in loud voice, "I have all the numbers (mocking tone). I will give you ALL the numbers." We did manage to work our way through the names and numbers and I began calling them all. When he got off track, I simply got him back on track to get the information that I needed. I said that I did not need any other information from him other than the name of the product he sprayed and who the manufacturer was, the numbers he is required to give me such as Structural Pest Control, Poison Control. His manner was, "I have the number for Poison Control (mocking me) do you want that TOO?" Yes, I will take that number, I said, and thank you, I will call and see if they can be of any assistance. Be calm. Tell the driver you are chemically sensitive or that you have MCS. At one point I did say, "You seem very angry," but that did not help so I would not bother with that. Thank them and say goodbye and get off the phone before you spend too much time engaging in ridiculous discussion with someone who might have just had one "nozzle-full" too many of neurotoxins even they don't have adequate information about.
After Getting Phone Numbers
I first called I guess, the Bayer company line into a poison control center at 1-800-842-8020, where I learned more about the product and then was referred to 800-842-8020 where someone named Kevin Anderson (get a name everywhere you call) gave me a case number only because I asked for a case number, which is Case #1-282393. Tell them that you desire that your exposure is turned into the EPA and reported under the requirements of the law. Use your best business voice and manners, no matter how sick you are. Speak slowly and remember that you may talk too long after a neurotoxic exposure. (My worst issue.) I told them my concerns about the exposure and and gave my doctor's phone number and fax number and asked for the MSDS to be faxed to her.
Call Your Doctor Whether They Like You or Not
I called my doctor's office and told them I was having a bad day, that I had locked my keys in the car and could not leave the area. I had an appointment earlier in the day I had cancelled with the doctor, so they already knew my keys were locked in my car. We had made a new appointment, so this was my second contact with my doctor, who is incidentally an Aetna HMO, not members of the Academy of Environmental Medicine (although I do seek care from those doctors.) One of the doctors there at my Aetna HMO does have MCS, so it is not as if I am calling the moon when I call them. I told them that Bayer would be faxing the sheets over to them and if my doctor could help me to call me. I asked that the sheets go into my chart. They called later to see how I was. I said I did not feel well, and that my keys were still locked in the car. I said I took a B-12 shot because it was all I could think to do and that I was breathing oxygen to avoid the air and possibly help me detox at a quicker rate. (On this subject we just don't know.)
Describe Your Symptoms before they Read Symptoms to
You I described my symptoms to the person at Bayer who has the sheet, and apparently nailed the symptoms one would expect from a much larger exposure. I had only a very minimal exposure and I myself am surprised at the way in which I can describe symptoms that match those on MSDS sheets. I never heard of the chemical and never saw an MSDS sheet for it. I don't have that kind of time or energy to study all sheets. In fact, I have only one, on Dursban and I don't know where it is.
Call Your Local or Usually State Structural Pest Control, or Department of Agriculture (Or Department Of Pesticide Regulation)
In this state there are minimal laws regarding spraying. Hey it is the petroleum state. Here I called 512-451-7200 and said that I had been exposed, named the product and talked way too long, because that is what I do after an exposure. I asked them to help run interference with my neighbor, who is now as "dug in" as she can get. They told me what I am trying to do is like telling a smoker they can't smoke in their own home, and I agree. The structural pest control said they would try, but they could be thrown out of the neighbor's yard because the law protects "them." People feel they have rights. I said I had the right to use my own yard, but in these conversations I am wasting time, because no agencies exist to change anything based on the assumption that because I am sick from toxins sprayed by neighbors who hire spray companies, I have rights. In this situation one is asked if they want to have "samples" taken or their clothing tested. My experience is that nothing comes back on these tests. I'd just as soon keep my clothes and wash them. Nothing ever comes back, even one inch from where Dursban has been sprayed. However, have them take samples anyway. Insist on it and if your clothes are not important to you, give them your clothes and have them tested.
File a Complaint
We arranged for the complaint form to be left outside because in Texas, Structural Pest Control personnel use a lot of perfume. Fill out the form and get it back to them. Be aware that pesticide companies use the most lenient overseer in order to get around drift requirements, etc. Whomever takes the complaint is the one you will use to make a written complaint. It requires an oath. Do not be afraid of an oath just because you are chemically sensitive. When you turn in the complaint form, attach some information from the website at ewg.org regarding 1) pesticides have not been tested 2) other fact and fiction listed at ewg.org, a doctor's letter and anything else you feel like attaching. Tell what happened and say ON THE FORM THAT YOU SUFFER FROM MCS if you do.
Call The National Pesticide Telecommunications Network
I called the National Pesticide Telecommunication Network at Oregon State (1-800-858-7378). I described that I had had only a very slight exposure and described that I then went inside and turned on the sprinklers and still got symptoms. I learned today that one of seven categories is then checked. One of the categories is "MCS" believe it or not Ripley. If you have "chemical sensitivity" there is a place to check that, for example, if you are only sensitive to herbicides, I guess. I can only say that there are 7 categories because NPTN would not tell all seven to me. I asked if MCS on the form had anything beside it relating to "mental illness" and the person I spoke to there named Matt said "No, it does not." Ask to have the doctor at NPTN call you. The two that might call are Dr. Miller or Dr. Wagner. Dr. Wagner called me in two days. I had missed a day in bed, and did not remember that a day had lapsed but we did talk and it was productive.
Talking to the Doctor at NPTN Oregon State
I told the doctor my history and at that time I did not know that they recognize MCS. I told him that I was from a family which is otherwise respected, except in this particular area regarding my rights. I told Dr. Wagner that George Bush thought enough of me to send us a plaque but that I continue to have a problem with pesticide use. (Everyone knows about me by now, right?) At some point, Dr. Wagner said, "you have MCS." I sort of sheepishly said "yes." I did not realize that one can be considered anything other than a somatizer if the word is used. I frankly told Dr. Wagner that the dose was very low and that I react indoors and outdoors. He did not argue. He said, roughly that I probably have a pituitary/hypothalamic dysfunction from the minimal exposure, and suggested that Tempo (a pyrethroid) causes that, at least I think. He said I could have Diabetes Incipidus. I said, no, I don't have that, but he said, you could have it because of the exposure. I looked it up and sure enough under this category I found "nephrotoxins" or kidney toxins. How I am feeling today is very thirsty and I am getting dehydrated as is my custom following exposures. There is almost nothing I can do except go and get an IV. Usually by the time I feel well enough to get an IV my veins have collapsed (we call it crapped out in the toxicologist's office) and there is only one place nearby to get the IV. I have money so I have IV supplies on hand. I still don't feel well enough to go get an IV. I don't feel well enough to bathe for example. (I did bathe on Monday.) While Dr. Wagner discussed subjects with me that sound as though he recognizes the hormone/estrogen mimicking potential of that particular pesticide, and told me to go get the following checked: testosterone, cortisone, estrogen, pituitary, hypothalamic dysfunction IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXPOSURE. While I was amaze to get that medical advice, that advice does not render me fit enough to go through all that testing. Finally I asked if the product has "benzene." He said there is a benzo-ring in Cyfluthrin (see now I can spell it.) He said, what can I do for you? I said, you can do nothing for me because the law does not allow you to stop the spraying, correct? He said, that is exactly true. I told him that I appreciated his call very much. He mumbled something about writing up my case to publish and then trailed off. I mentioned MCS being renamed Idiopathic and he said "That's just one group that named it that," and I agree that is a front group for industry.Tomorrow my husband is going to call and insist that my case get some attention. We all ought to do that. Believe me, my husband was not happy to come home from work tired and have to cook dinner, feed me, and then agree to call Dr. Wagner, but he said he would be happy to do it.
My Follow Up Regarding Laws I am exhausted.
I will convey other information to the group later on. I called the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network at Oregon State and learned how they came to get the competitive grant through the EPA, that there are 3 more years left on it, and a lot of other information that tells me that industry runs this country.
As I have said before, call in your exposures, make records and make reports. Apparently many other people are getting sick. When you feel your worst, fight the hardest. If you feel awful, get what you can in writing and then do the rest later. If you suffer from intractable disorganization, get a big box and put everything into one box. Just do it.
Best, Susan Jannarone
Disseminate to all MCS, CI patients
Well Mr. Helliker, It does seem a shame that you STILL are demanding that only your "registered" POISONS can be "legally" used to "control" pest problems. It is truly disgraceful how the innocent victims of your various "registered" POISONS are routinely harassed and/or treated like criminals or "mental patients", when they are only asking for "professional" help and/or information. Why on earth would you try to prevent Fairfax and other communities from protecting their people by requiring the simple common courtesy that notification represents? Buddha said: "It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways." When will it be "legal" (in your opinion) to use safe and far more effective (unregistered) alternatives to actually control pest problems without harming more innocent victims?
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
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