Some L.A. County bus drivers say pesticides are making them ill
14 Metropolitan Transportation Authority
drivers are pursuing workers' comp claims, and 110 have signed a
petition to halt the agency's spraying of the vehicles.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mta-pesticides-20130617,0,3551619.story
By Dan Weikel, June 16, 2013
Riders board a Metro Rapid bus. Metropolitan Transportation Authority
buses are sprayed quarterly for pests,but severe infestations can
require additional applications.
Los Angeles County bus drivers say they are regularly becoming ill —
sometimes while behind the wheel — from pesticides sprayed inside their
vehicles by the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
At least 14 Metro drivers are pursuing workers'
compensation claims, and more than 110 have signed a petition that
demands a halt to the spraying, according to their attorney. Some
operators are on medical leave, and a few say they have left Metro
because of repeated exposure.
"You can be driving your bus and get hit with the symptoms," said
Frank Portillo, a 23-year coach operator who retired in March, sooner
than planned, because of medical issues he believes are pesticide
related. "It's a problem for those on the early shift, but you can
breathe the fumes throughout the day. The smell is all over."
Three drivers — part of
Metro's most heavily used transit system, shuttling 1 million passengers
a day with a fleet of 2,500 buses — have lodged complaints with the
California Division of Occupational Safety and Health since 2011. They
allege they have suffered severe headaches, dizziness, breathing
problems, nausea and irritation to their eyes and skin from four brands
of pesticides.
All can be harmful if they are swallowed, are inhaled or come into
contact with the skin or eyes, research shows. Extreme exposure can be
fatal.
Peter Melton, a spokesman for Cal/OSHA, said the agency is
investigating whether Metro has violated regulations designed to prevent
workers from being exposed to harmful substances. He declined to
comment further because the inquiry is pending.
Although the drivers say they occasionally hear complaints from
passengers about odors, there is no indication any riders have reported
health problems as a result.
Nevertheless, advocates for transit users, such as the Bus Riders
Union, are concerned that passengers might be getting ill as well,
especially the elderly and children, who might be more sensitive to
chemicals.
"If the drivers are getting sick, that is enough indication that it
is not safe," said Sunyoung Yang, a union spokesperson. After an
application, "In the morning, when the buses start running, there are
some acrid smells. If there are unsafe chemicals inside the buses, there
should be precautionary measures."
Portillo identified one of his former passengers as Eugene Rubalcava,
36, of San Gabriel, who relies on Metro buses to get to work. In an
interview, Rubalcava said he has noticed chemical-like smells on
occasion after he boards early in the morning. He says he has never
become ill.
Metro officials said ample precautions are taken when buses are
treated to kill roaches and other insects attracted by crumbs from
sandwiches, chips, candy and other food items that passengers often
bring on board.
They say that safety information is provided to operators, and no
more than eight driver complaints have been officially lodged in the
last five years. In a recent letter, the authority told Cal/OSHA that
employee exposures are insignificant because of the controlled
conditions and limited amounts of pesticide applied.
"Spraying buses is common to prevent insect infestations," said Dave
Sotero, a Metro spokesman. "These are standard industry practices, and
the chemicals are used for a multitude of purposes."
The pesticides in question are pyrethrins made of a natural substance
from chrysanthemums or their synthetic equivalent known as pyrethroids.
Thought to be safer than other pesticides, their use has exploded
during the last two decades. Both are applied to kill insects in homes,
on pets and on commercial farms. But studies of
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
data show that the number of human health problems — including severe
reactions — have increased several hundredfold since their introduction.
Although spraying pesticides is common at transit agencies, officials
at the Orange County Transportation Authority and Santa Monica's Big
Blue Bus said their operations apply a pesticide gel specifically in
cracks, crevices and panel areas of their buses. Sprays are rarely, if
ever, used, they said. Of the two transit operators, Orange County
reported only one complaint from a driver in the last few years.
Metro contracts with ISOTECH, an experienced and license pest control
company. Sections of bus interiors are sprayed, including the driver's
area, and, as with OCTA and Santa Monica, pesticides are injected into
cracks, crevices, moldings and panel areas.
Buses are then posted with warnings and sealed off for four hours
before employees can enter, officials said. Each vehicle is treated
quarterly, but severe infestations can require additional applications.
"Our first concern is safety for the public and our employees," said
Debra Johnson, the deputy chief operations officer for Metro. "We use
pesticides for infestations, and we go to extremes to make sure we have a
safe environment."
Drivers say, however, that pesticide odors can linger during their eight-hour shifts, producing
flu-like
symptoms. On several occasions, Portillo said, he became so sick he had
to request a replacement in the middle of his shift. He and other
operators disputed Metro's statement that safety information is readily
available, noting that warning notices have been removed from treated
buses before operators arrived for work.
"The
MTA
is not responding to their concerns," said attorney Diana Sparagna, who
represents the drivers pursuing workers' compensation claims. "We have
done everything right, but the MTA makes it sound like this is nothing."