It has been twenty six years since I was seriously and permanent injured by these two chemicals while teaching seventh grade in Long Beach School District
in Mississippi. Countless victims, many schoolchildren and personnel
have been exposed to these chemicals and reported injuries. The only
help came from filing lawsuits because no government agency was
authorized to investigate the toxic incidents nor to do follow up
studies on those exposed to these two chemicals. The school district
was allowed to cover it up, siding with the contractor who was business
partners with at least one of the school board members. The contractor
stored two tankers of these chemicals within feet of the school
cafeteria, lying that the tankers contained only water. The contractor
then blamed the manufacturer for not telling him the chemicals were
hazardous, although the hazards were in fine print on the drum labels.
Harrison County Mississippi Circuit Court Jerry O. Terry ruled that the
jury could not be informed that there were hazard warnings on either
chemicals in the products because hazard warnings were meant for
employees of the contractor. The fumes and particles were heavier than
air, so quickly fell downward and into our classrooms through a dozen or
more open windows. In summary: It has been more than twenty six years and with full knowledge of the harm and injuries, spray on foam roofing companies are allowed to target marketing of these deadly products, calling the "a green solution," to unsuspecting and ignorant school board members. How has the spray on foaming manufacturer and applicators kept this information secret for so many years, that school children and school personal have been seriously and permanently injured. By prolonged and treacherous litigation, by offering and harassing the injured and their families into less than fair settlements in exchange for lies and extortion of the injured into silence. Judges like Jerry O. Terry look the other way, knowing settlement agreements contain confidentiality contracts taking away the injured's constitutional right to free speech. In exchange for settlement, the injured have to recant (say they were wrong) when they claimed they had been injured by these products. Lawmakers,
many of whom are lawyers, know this is the case. No one has done
anything to protect school children and personnel from these chemicals,
until now. Read, pray, and hope that the practice of allowing school
children and personnel to be injured and victimized by greedy companies
--- will end by positive action. Thank you EPA Director Lisa Jackson. CONTACT:
April 13, 2011
EPA Announces Actions on Two Chemicals to Reduce Harm to People WASHINGTON
– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released action
plans to address the potential health risks of methylene diphenyl
diisocyanate (MDI), toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and related compounds.
Americans may be exposed to these
chemicals when they are used in certain applications such as spray foam
insulation, sealing concrete or finishing floors. The action plans are
part of Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s commitment to enhance EPA’s
chemical management program. The plans identify a range of actions the
agency is considering under the authority of the Toxic Substances
Control Act.
Diisocyanates
are used to make polyurethane polymers. Most polyurethane products,
such as foam mattresses or bowling balls, are fully reacted or "cured,"
and are not of concern. Some products, however, such as adhesives,
coatings, and spray foam, continue to react while in use, and may
contain "uncured" diisocyanates to which people may be exposed.
Actions to address concerns associated with TDI, MDI, and related compounds include issuing rules to call in data on any past allegations of significant adverse effects, obtain unpublished health and safety data from industry sources, require exposure monitoring studies for consumer products, and possibly ban or restrict consumer products containing uncured MDI or TDI. EPA will continue to work with other federal agencies, the polyurethanes industry, and others to ensure improved labeling and provide comprehensive product safety information for polyurethane products containing uncured compounds, especially in consumer products. More information about spray polyurethane foam: http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/spf/spray_polyurethane_foam.html
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