Westinghouse Workers Have the Highest Levels of PCBs Ever Recorded

[donsu]

http://www.counterpunch.com/higgs03042006.html

Dying for Their Work

It's hard to imagine the man whose body has carried the highest levels of PCBs ever recorded on the planet as one of the lucky ones. But a former Westinghouse Electric Corp. worker and client of Bloomington, Indiana attorney David McCrea would seem to fit the definition.

"They tested the workers in 1977 for PCB blood levels," McCrea said during a recent interview. "One worker tested 3,450 parts per billion in his blood. The background level is five."

But despite his historic toxicological status, this particular worker is alive, which a September 2005 study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says makes him a survivor. His coworkers are dying from brain and skin cancer.

"Among those working (more than) 90 days (in the Westinghouse plant), both melanoma and brain cancer were elevated, especially for women," the study says.

-snip-

"Some interaction between estrogenic PCBs and hormones may contribute to higher risk for women," the report says. "Because women have a higher percentage of adipose tissue, PCBs may be stored in their bodies longer."

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life in america: "He got whipsawed," he said. "You can't sue your employer, even if they intentionally poison you."

male suits = the bane of our lives

[Spinzonner]

1. They should be grateful that the company didnt sue them

for theft of the product

:sarcasm: