popcorn butter additive caused lethal lung condition for workers

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/washington/25osha.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin


OSHA Leaves Worker Safety in Hands of Industry


Seven years ago, a Missouri doctor discovered a troubling pattern at a microwave popcorn plant in the town of Jasper. After an additive was modified to produce a more buttery taste, nine workers came down with a rare, life-threatening disease that was ravaging their lungs.

Puzzled Missouri health authorities turned to two federal agencies in Washington. Scientists at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which investigates the causes of workplace health problems, moved quickly to examine patients, inspect factories and run tests. Within months, they concluded that the workers became ill after exposure to diacetyl, a food-flavoring agent.

But the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, charged with overseeing workplace safety, reacted with far less urgency. It did not step up plant inspections or mandate safety standards for businesses, even as more workers became ill.

On Tuesday, the top official at the agency told lawmakers at a Congressional hearing that it would prepare a safety bulletin and plan to inspect a few dozen of the thousands of food plants that use the additive.
-long snip-
-------------------------------------------------


neo cons must own the companies that make diacetyl

While several authorities have called the disease "Popcorn Worker's Lung," a more accurate term suggested by other doctors may be more appropriate, since the disease can occur in any industry working with diacetyl: diacetyl-induced bronchiolitis obliterans. After the workers filed a lawsuit against the manufacturers, the Environmental Protection Agency began an investigation into the chemical properties of microwave popcorn butter flavoring. On July 19, 2005, jurors awarded a popcorn plant worker in Missouri $2.7 million for his claim of diacetyl-induced respiratory problems.

On July 26, 2006, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the United Food and Commercial Workers petitioned the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration to promulgate an emergency temporary standard to protect workers from the deleterious health effects of inhaling diacetyl vapors. The petition was followed by a letter of support signed by more than thirty prominent scientists. The matter is under consideration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diacetyl

is pretty much contaminated.
This is getting ridiculous.

in the article and it made me remember what he would say about them (IFF). The company used to have a R & D plant in NJ, on Raritan Bay. They were cited many times and fined for pollution. He said that they would gladly pay the fines because it was cheaper than correcting the problems. He would come home every night smelling like whatever they were working on, sometimes he smelled good, sometimes he smelled bad. (I never thought it was bad when I would smell the same smells in the air by our home-to me, it was just the "Daddy Smell".) He had nodules removed from his vocal cords a few times, his skin would be odd-colored sometimes, and he coughed ALL the time. He worked there for almost 40 years. Anyone that complained about illness or safety was transferred or let go. The R & D Division was eventually moved to a state with less stringent pollution laws.

When I read this story, I wondered what he would have had to say about it. I don't think he would have been a bit surprised.