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Northern Virginia Daily Letters to the Editor Sir: I am writing this letter to the communities and former workers of the Avtex Fibers plant. I feel you have not been told the truth about some of the chemicals you were exposed to before 1989. From 1939 until 1989 Avtex poured about 2 billion pounds of carbon disulfide and about 377 million pounds into the air not counting soil and water releases. The dangers of these chemicals have been known for decades. They cause permanent neurological, central nervous system and reproductive disorders. Children who grew up around this site and who are adults should have special attention paid to them. Did Avtex, FMC and the Environmental Protection Agency tell the communities and workers about this dangers? I think not. Why I know so much about this subject is I worked for Courtaulds Fibers in Mobile, Ala., for 28 years — the same company that built Avtex in 1939. In 1993 I and several of my coworkers were sick and suspected chemical poisoning. Our government, union, company and the local physicians would not help us. They said it was all in our heads. Sounds familiar? The population of my county is 375,000. You would think we could have found a doctor. In 1993, 47 employees at our own expense went to the Emory University Rollins School Of Public Health in Atlanta (Web address: www.sph.emory.edu ) Out of the 47, 45 had carbon sulfide damage. In 1996 I and several of my coworkers retired on Social Security disability. In 1995 a local man who lived three miles from the plant site had some horses die and get sick. Louisiana State University did autopsies on these animals and found carbon disulfide in them. The man sued Courtaulds and won. My question is if animals are harmed three miles away, what do you think happens to the former employees and the communities who breath these chemicals 24 hours a day? For more information and an exposure questionnaire contact me at bama9298@aol.com . BOBBY ODOM 6420 Shetland Court Mobile, Ala. April 24, 2003 |