FELIX: ERIN, WE'RE LIVE OUTSIDE
THE MONTEREY COUNTY AG OFFICE
WHICH IS LEADING THE
INVESTIGATION OF TANIMURA AND
ANTLE, AN INVESTIGATION THAT
WILL REACH ALL THE WAY TO THE
FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY.
AG GIANT TANIMURA AND ANTLE THE
FOCUS OF A STATE AND LOCAL PROBE
AFTER 18 FIELD WORKERS WERE
POSSIBLY EXPOSED TO PESTICIDE
CHEMICALS WHILE WORKING IN A
FIELD NEAR ABBOTT AND HARRIS
ROADS THURSDAY MORNING.
>> THIS IS WHAT IS CHARACTERIZED
AS A PRIORITY INVESTIGATION
BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
INVOLVED THIS INVESTIGATION WILL
GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE U.S.
EPA.
>> SOME OF THE SYSTEMS THESE
FOLKS WERE COMPLAINING OF WERE
DIZZINOUS, NAUSEA, VOMITING, AND
ABDOMINAL PAIN.
FELIX: DIZZINOUS, NAUSEA,
THERE -- FELIX: THE FIELD
WORKERS WHO WERE PLANTING CELERY
CAME DOWN WITH THOSE SYMPTOMS
ABOUT AN HOUR INTO THE JOB.
ONE PERSON STARTED VOMITING.
T & A RUSHED THE WORKERS TO
SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
WHERE A MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT
WAS INITIATED.
ALL EMPLOYEES WERE STRIPPED DOWN
AND SHOWERED.
>> WE TREATED SOME OF THEM WITH
MEDICATION AS NEEDED AND AFTER
WE WERE CONFIDENT THE VITAL
SIGNS WERE STABLE AND THAT THEIR
SYSTEMS HAD RESOLVED.
WE WERE ABLE TO BEGIN
DISCHARGING THEM FROM THE
HOSPITAL.
FELIX: A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE AG
COMPANY SAID ALL EMPLOYEES BUT
ONE WERE BACK ON THE JOB FRIDAY
MORNING, BUT WHAT GOT THEM SICK
ISN'T EXACTLY CLEAR.
ONE SCENARIO IS THAT PESTICIDES
WERE APPLIED TO A NEARBY FIELD
THE NIGHT BEFORE.
THE WORKERS MAY HAVE BEEN
OVERCOME BY LINGERING ODORS.
>> IT'S NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT
CAUSED THE SYMPTOMS AMONG THE
CREW AND WE CONTINUE TO
INVESTIGATE.
WE HAVE SOME CLOTHING SAMPLES
THAT WILL BE SENT TO THE LAB.
FELIX: PART OF THIS
INVESTIGATION WILL LOOK INTO
WHETHER TANIMURA AND ANTLE
VIOLATED ANY PESTICIDE LAWS AND
REGULATIONS A PRELIMINARY REPORT
, MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE
FEDERAL EPA WITHIN 30 DAYS,
ERIN
ERIN: IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT
TANIMURA AND ANTLE IMMEDIATELY
BUSED THE FIELD WORKERS TO THE
HOSPITAL FOR EXAMINATION.
A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE COMPANY
SAID, WE VALUE OUR EMPLOYEES,
THEIR HEALTH AND WELL BEING, AND
WE TAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS VERY
