From: Doug Olson (Adelanto, California) To: LewisDaveL@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 8:13 PM Subject: Sewage Sludge Serious Problem
Dear Dr. Lewis,
I have read a lot about you and a lot about sewage sludge only after the fact that a co-composting plant moved in
about 1 mile south of where I lived. Adelanto, Ca 92301. The owner said he is a Green Waste Facility and it is called
Nursery Products. How misleading. The facility started Aug, 2002.
For the past year I had been having dizzy spells, problems breathing and bleeding sores on my arms and some on
my face. I had been to my doctors several times and to the E.R. They never could find anything wrong, they would
say it's probably stress go home and relax. I also ended up with a severe sinus infection that wouldn’t go away with
antibiotics and flushing my nose with sterile saline. I was scheduled for sinus surgery (which I never had done) and
then they thought it could be anxiety with my breathing problems they recommended some medication for that, I
never got it. They did give me meclazine for my dizziness.
I never put all my symptoms together with the strong fertilizer/ammonia smell I was smelling usually at night, until an
article in the newspaper and a council meeting on Nov 5, 03. Then things got worse and the smell got stronger and
on Nov 23, 03 I was pumping gas at our local circle K, the smell was so strong it made you gag by the time I got
home my face felt like it was on fire (like a severe sun burn). I went to urgent care the next day, the Doctor told me to
get out of Adelanto for a few weeks until my symptoms cleared up. I wish I had listened.
Things got even worse on Jan 16, 04 my blood work came back with slightly high liver enzymes which is consistent
with Toxins in your body (I don’t drink or smoke) Then on Jan 20, 04 I had a chest x-ray done it should a black spot
on my lungs. The doctor sent it out to a specialist to read it and I still don’t know what it is. That is all it took, I went
home pack my clothes, the dog and came to stay with my mom. I didn’t think I was going to make my 40 birthday on
Jan 31, 04. On Jan 30, 04 I ended up at urgent care because I was wheezing so bad and could barely breath. They
gave me a breathing treatment and a strong antibiotic and entex. They said I had pneumonia/bronchitis. I found out
that this is what most of the people are diagnosed with.
There were over 200 people at the council meeting Nov 5, 04. Even young kids spoke to the council telling them
they are so sick they can’t go to school. So this is when I started doing my research and calling and e-mailing every
elected official I could find, they all told me it’s not their problem it is a city problem. I can’t believe the mentality of
these people when you talk to them, they are all in Denial or getting paid big bucks.
I know they know how harmful this is, there was a 65 page report from the South Coast Air Quality Management
District telling how dangerous a facility like this is. When I told Ron Clark at the Mojave Desert Air Quality
Management District (which is our district) about the report it is no longer on the web-site. I don’t know why it was on
there in the first place, but I am glad I saved it to disk.
We don’t know where to turn for help, I joined the Sierra Club hoping for support. If you could lead us in the right
direction it would be greatly appreciated.
I can be reached at (760)241-4652 or E-mail me at: olsmer@msn.com
There is a lot more to this and a lot that the people of adelanto have been through concerning this. All we get is the
run around.
I will e-mail some of the letters and newspaper articles.
Thank You,
for your time
Doug Olson
CALIFORNIA – VICTIM SUFFERS DIZZY SPELLS, BREATHING PROBLEMS, BLEEDING SORES ON ARMS AND
FACE, SEVERE SINUS INFECTION, PNEUMONIA/BRONCHITIS FROM EXPOSURE TO
CLASS A SEWAGE SLUDGE BIOSOLIDS COMPOST