Toxic chemical exposure made aviation workers chronically ill

[Guest guest]

note the words " other environmental illnesses " in the article- I

wonder what they could be?

Toxic chemical exposure made aviation workers chronically ill

January 13, 2009 by Susie

CBC News reports on airplane mechanics and co-workers who developed

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and other environmental illnesses after

exposure to paint fumes at their place of work. The report says toxic

chemicals in hanger made B.C. aviation workers sick, and explains

that when the group became disabled from the toxic exposure, the

government denied them benefits, claiming there was no proof the fume

exposure caused the workers' symptoms.

" There wasn't enough evidence to be able to conclude with confidence

that the workers' symptoms were as a result of their employment, "

[manager for occupational health services at WorkSafeBC] Hikida said.

Bruce Carruthers, a retired B.C. internist who specialized in

illnesses involving chronic pain and multiple chemical sensitivities,

disagreed. He saw several Cascade employees while was still

practising, and said they are " very sick from exposure to the most

serious chemicals. "

Carruthers said WorkSafeBC's attitude toward chemical sensitivities

is similar to other skeptics, adding: " A lot of people are in denial

about worker exposures. "

" If I was testifying in court, I would say there is no doubt their

illnesses are linked to their exposure at Cascade, " Carruthers said.

After reviewing documents on the case, Stark, a physician and

immune-system specialist who used to adjudicate cases for WorkSafeBC,

said he would have awarded the employees full coverage.

" They were temporary exposures, but that doesn't mean the problem was

temporary, " Stark said. " It certainly could be that these were the

trigger factor for more lasting or permanent damage.

" From a medical perspective — and indeed the other doctors who've

seen the patients would say that — there was something in the

workplace that caused problems and is likely a factor in terms that

are ongoing, " Stark continued.

Complaints aren't limited to former employees. CBC News talked to

current workers who said the situation has improved, but some people

still have health issues.

A current Cascade employee, who didn't want to be named for fear of

losing his job, said that " there's a whole lot of people who work

there who still have problems. People come in here acting normal, and

they leave twitchy. "

" When they would paint the aircraft, I would call in sick those

days, " said another current employee. " Probably 30 to 40 people had

symptoms over the years. "

Three years ago, the employees at Cascade organized, and they are now

members of the Canadian Auto Workers union. Union representative

Gordon Piper told CBC News he is trying to help the former employees

appeal their WorkSafeBC claims.

" These people are all dealing with multiple chemical sensitivity, "

known as MCS, Piper said. " They have a list of symptoms, but MCS is

not on the list of illnesses recognized by WorkSafeBC.

The Canary Report covered this story last November in the post

Canadian mechanic disabled from toxic paint fumes, which includes a

video on the complaints.