Benzene and my son...part 2

In my previous post I wrote about the phone call from my son telling me he had been "gassed" at work.

Benzene.

The following is taken from the CDC's website:
"Breathing very high levels of benzene can result in death, while high levels can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. Eating or drinking foods containing high levels of benzene can cause vomiting, irritation of the stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, rapid heart rate, and death.

The major effect of benzene from long-term exposure is on the blood. Benzene causes harmful effects on the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance for infection."

It took hours and hours of research on the internet to find anything that would tell me how long the affects of his "gassing" would last. One site - one - told me if a person is sensitive to chemicals, etc, that it could last a few days. My son is still feeling the affects.

And today he went to the ER - he had a small abcess on his lower back. In the last 2 days it has doubled in size and began extremely painful. The doctor told him that with the gassing it shot his immune system to hell, and that could cause the major infection. He is now restricted to bed until Wednesday (except for doctor visits).

My son is angry. He is impatient. He is only 23. His life the last few days has been turned upside down. Sweats so bad he has had to change the sheets on his bed a few times a day, a horrid headache that doesnt stop and he said he is just so tired.

He called me tonight after he had gotten up from a four hour nap. He is finally starting to sound like my boy again. I even got him to laugh. (We were both watching America's Funniest Video's.)

I have emailed a couple of Government agencies already and will do more tomorrow. I have found where websites about Zug Isand seem to have been removed from the web. Hmmmm...

Sorry US Steel and Ford. I will spread the word. Too many people work there and risk their lives each day. How many families have had their worlds turned inside out due to the illnesses the workers have developed later on in life due to the toxic fumes at that plant?

I am not saying the Union isn't at fault here either. The Union and the companies need to communicate and work together. They have human beings working for them that they need to take care of and give them a safe and secure workplace.

My son is lucky. And so am I. He is alive. That might not have been the case had the man working with him not noticed the sudden changes in his behavior.

Thank you sir. From the bottom of my heart - thank you.