CANADA – SICK SEWER WORKERS SUES – AUG. 2006
CANADA – BRITISH COLUMBIA – SEWAGE WORKERS ILL FOR 5 YEARS – SUFFER HEAVY METALS AND
CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AND CHRONIC GRAM NEGATIVE BACTERIAL INFECTION WITH RESULTANT SYSTEMIC
PROBLEMS
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA – ROBERT BRUCE VS. CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT
“11. That on or about March 7, 2005, the plaintiff suffered a medical operation from which sample of his
tissue were analyzed and the plaintiff was informed that the samples of his bone, bone marrow, and other
tissue, contained gram negative coccal bacteria and heavy metals, biotoxins, endotoxins, methyl
mercaptins, mercury and methyl mercury, (which) were all deposited as a result of the negligence of the
defendant in the operation of the sewage treatment plant.”
Communication to sludge researcher from sewage worker victim – March 2006
“You may recall, that I phoned you quite a while back and discussed my exposure's at a Wastewater Treatment Plant in
Canada that produced Class A, Class B sludge and occasionally dewatered sludge as controlled waste.
All of this was done inside a facility that had defective ventilation. Neighbours living next to this facility had been
promised an odour free facility, as you know, there are serious odour's associated with these processes. The odour
complaints rolled in and because of the ventilation problems (extraction fan not powerful enough and malfunctioning)
they shut off the fresh air supply fan to the solids processing area (it was pressurizing the room and pushing odour's
out through the doors) in order to keep the room under negative pressure. After at least 7 months of this a couple
of us started to get sick. The other guy has burning skin from his head to his toes. I ended up with discoid
atelectasis (partial collapse of the lung), 6 surgeries on the jaw to remove diseased bone and 4 of my teeth
(chronic osteomyelitis) and serious neurological problems. (probably told you a lot of this before)
The dentist sent my oral tissue samples off to the University of Texas Oral Pathology dept. The report came back with
the diagnosis of Chronic Osteomyelitis. I phoned the pathologist and asked them to do a gram stain to see if they could
identify the offending pathogens. At the time he told me that they never find any culturable bacteria in these samples
but he would do the stain and have a look. I just got the report back and they found gram negative coccal bacteria
(substantial numbers) in two capillaries in the tissue sample. I called the pathologist back and discussed the results with
him. He told me that he did a research paper on over 400 oral tissue specimens in 1992 and they only found culturable
bacteria in 4% of the samples. He said he had never seen the bacteria that he found in my sample in any other
sample and stated it was "highly unusual".
This is consistent with what a Toxicologist (hired by the employer) said in his conclusions regarding his investigation of
Endotoxin, Yeast and Fungi at the plant. He felt that it was a rather realistic view "that the health symptoms suffered by
the employee's were due to exposure to Endotoxins or other biological agents". My physician has diagnosed
"Exposure to Mercury and Other Environmental Toxins from sludge as the primary diagnosis" and "gram
negative bacterial infection from sludge exposure as the secondary diagnosis. There were also "elevated
levels of mercury" and other metals found in pipe scrapings in the plant. “
The strange part is that this disease process unfolded over about a 2 to 3 year time span, although it now appears
that the pathogens got deeply entrenched in the lung tissues. The only clue was an unusual sore spot in the
right scapula (thought to be of musuloskeletal origin) which was later discovered to be referred pain from the right
upper lobe of my lungs. The good news is that I was treated by a surgeon and dentist who were both familiar with a
technique that uses nerve block injections (this is taught in German Medical Schools) to detoxify patients. I also had
drugs to chelate the heavy metals out of the body. I still have an active infection but it appears now that my
immune system is able to keep up with things and I only require occasional dental procedures and nerve
block injections. Thanks for all of your excellent work re: the problems with this material, as far as I am concerned, I
do not believe it is safe to handle this stuff or land apply it. Fortunately there appears to be newer better methods of
dealing with sludge ie: biomass for energy etc., coming down the pipe. Incidentally, we are pursuing legal action
against the employer regarding this issue and we are supported in this by my union, the Canadian Union Of
Public Employees. March 2008 Update – victims now suffers from Mycoplasma Pneumonia.
[to California State Senator Dean Florez)
May 9, 2005
Dear Senator Florez,
I would like to thank you for your efforts re: making the sludge industry and waste water treatment plants accountable. I
can tell you from my own personal experience that exposure to biosolids can be very dangerous. Myself and a co-
worker have been ill for 5 years because of our work at a sewage treatment plant which produced class A
and B biosolids. In my case it was heavy metals and chemical exposure which set me up for a chronic gram
negative bacterial infection with the resultant systemic problems. Luckily I am still alive to talk about it, thanks to
some very astute physicians. It took quite a long time to figure out the nature of my medical problems, as very few
doctors are trained to recognize what has come to be known as "sludge syndrome". This is one of the issues with
biosolids, people are getting sick with bizarre infections and we are just beginning to realize that we may be
creating a whole new class of superbugs. You cannot mix chemicals, heavy metals, human waste
(especially from hospitals) and all the other nasties in sewage and call the product an unrestricted soil
conditioner. This is ludicrous and ridiculous. Keep up the good work.
Regards,
Robert Bruce