** TOXIC SUBSTANCES **
Oil Company Confronts Cluster of Brain Tumors. The New York
Times, April 6, 1999, pA14.
Several researchers who worked at the Amoco Research Center
in the 1970's and 1980's have developed brain tumors. When Edward
Paschke, a researcher at Amoco, found out that four of his
colleagues who worked within 150 yards of him had been diagnosed
with brain cancer, he went for a checkup. The doctors discovered
a benign tumor in his brain. An investigation instigated by Amoco
(now BP Amoco) 3 years ago has turned up brain tumors in at least
20 more employees of the center.
"We have a very unusual pattern of brain cancer here," says
Jim Lowry, who is heading up the task force at BP Amoco that is
investigating the situation.
Seven of the 20 people affected had glioma, a rare form of
malignant cancer. Five of the employees with glioma had worked in
the same laboratory on the same corridor. The substances being
studied in the labs on the corridor were toxic chemicals.
BP Amoco expects a comprehensive report on the chemicals
involved within the next few weeks. The company says it will "do
the right thing" and compensate the victims if the causes are
shown to be work-related.
The company is already facing a number of lawsuits from the
victims, who say that Amoco ignored complaints of a faulty
ventilation system in the lab for years. But BP Amoco says that
the medical investigators have found that the ventilation system
was probably not a cause of the cancer.
BP Amoco has taken unusual steps in trying to identify
employees that were affected, and it has been very open about
sharing all of the information it finds, even with the lawyers
who have filed suit against the company.
____________________________________
Peter Anderson
RecycleWorlds Consulting
4513 Vernon Blvd. Ste. 15
Madison, WI 53705-4964
Phone:(608) 231-1100/Fax: (608) 233-0011
E-mail:recycle@msn.fullfeed.com