Dɛn bin pul dis atikul wit di wok we di Sɛntral fɔ Pɔblik Intɛgriti, we na nyus savis we nɔ de du biznɛs ɛn we de du risach bɔt di we aw pipul dɛn nɔ ikwal.
Was. pat. bayk. Kevin Hartley, Drew Wynn ɛn Joshua Atkins bin de wok insay 10 mɔnt frɔm dɛnsɛf we dɛn day, bɔt dɛn bin de wok pan. Di tin dɛn kin difrɛn, bɔt di rizin we kin mek dɛn layf shɔt na di sem: di kemikal dɛn we de na di tin dɛn we dɛn kin yuz fɔ pul pent ɛn ɔda tin dɛn we dɛn kin sɛl na stɔ. ɔlsay na di kɔntri.
Bikɔs dɛn famili dɛn bin de fil bad ɛn dɛn bin de fred, dɛn bin prɔmis fɔ du ɔl wetin dɛn ebul fɔ mek mɛtilin klorayd nɔ kil ɔda pɔsin.
Bɔt na Amɛrika, na smɔl kemikal plant dɛn nɔmɔ dɔn sɔfa dis kayn tin bikɔs dɛn nɔ de protɛkt di wokman dɛn ɛn di wan dɛn we de bay dɛn. So methylene chloride bin bi serial killer, pan ɔl we dɛn bin de wɔn bɔt di denja dɛn we in vapour dɛn gɛt ivin bifo dɛn bɔn Hartley, Wayne ɛn Atkins. Dɛn dɔn kil bɔku bɔku pipul dɛn, if nɔto mɔ, insay di las dikɛd ia we ɛni ɛjɛnsy nɔ ɛp dɛn.
Afta we di Sɛntral fɔ Pɔblik Intɛgriti bin du wan investayshɔn ɛn kɔl frɔm di wan dɛn we de sɔpɔt sef, di US Envayrɔmɛnt Protɛkshɔn Ajɛns bin dɔn tɔk se dɛn fɔ ban bɔku bɔku tin fɔ yuz di tin we dɛn de yuz fɔ pul pent.
Na bin Janwari 2017, di las dez fo Obama administreshɔn. Hartley bin day insay Epril da ia de, Wynn insay Ɔktoba da ia de, ɛn Atkins insay Fɛbwari insay di ia we afta dat, di tɛm we di Trump administreshɔn bin gɛt zil fɔ dirɛgyuleshɔn ɛn dɛn bin want fɔ pul am pas fɔ ad rigyuleshɔn—espɛshali di EPA ɛnvayrɔmɛnt. Di methylene chloride proposal nɔ bin go ɛnisay.
Bɔt 13 mɔnt afta Atkins day, Trump in Envayrɔmɛnt Protɛkshɔn Ajɛns, we bin de ɔnda prɛshɔn, disayd fɔ stɔp fɔ sɛl rital sɛl fɔ pent stripa dɛn we gɛt mɛtilin klorayd. Insay Epril, di Envayrɔmɛnt Protɛkshɔn Ajɛns na Bayden bin mek wan lɔ we go ban di kemikal na ɔl di tin dɛn we pipul dɛn kin yuz ɛn bɔku pan di wokples dɛn.
Dɔktɔ Rɔbɔt Harisin, we na klinik prɔfɛsɔ fɔ wok ɛn envayrɔmɛnt mɛrɛsin na di Yunivasiti ɔf Kalifɔnia, San Fransisko, bin tɔk se: “Wi nɔ kin du dis na Amɛrika.” “Dɛn famili ya na mi hiro dɛn.”
Na dis na aw dɛn bin win di prɔblɛm dɛn fɔ gɛt dɛn rizɔlt ya ɛn wetin dɛn go rɛkɔmɛnd if yu de bigin fɔ waka na di sem kayn we we at fɔ waka, ilɛksɛf di tin we apin gɛt fɔ du wit tin dɛn we de mek yu sɔfa, wokples we nɔ sef, kɔntaminɛshɔn ɔ ɔda injuri.
Brian Wynn, we in brɔda Dru we ol 31 ia bin bay mɛtilin klorayd fɔ mek in Sawt Karolina kol brij kɔfi shɔp ɛn frij we dɛn kin waka insay, bin tɔk se: “Gɔgl ɔltin.” “Ɛn fɔ rich to pipul dɛn.”
Na so i fɛn di Public Integrity Inquiry, we dɛn bin pul tu ia bifo in brɔda day, kɔntakt masta sabi pipul dɛn ɛn lan ɔltin frɔm usay i go bay di prɔdak to wetin mek i at fɔ trak di pipul dɛn we day. (Methylene chloride smok kin kil pɔsin we i gɛda na say dɛn we dɛn lɔk, ɛn i kin mek pɔsin gɛt at atak we tan lɛk natura l day if nɔbɔdi nɔ du toxicology testing.)
Advays frɔm Wendy Hartley, Kevin in mama: “Academic” na di men wɔd we dɛn de fɛn. Sɔntɛm bɔku bɔku risach go de wet fɔ yu de. I bin rayt insay wan imel se: “Dis go ɛp fɔ separet opinion frɔm di tru tin dɛn.”
Lauren Atkins, we na di mama fɔ 31 ia ol Joshua, we day we i bin de tink wit BMX bayk fɔk, bin tɔk wit UCSF in Harrison bɔku tɛm. Insay Fɛbwari 2018, i bin fɛn in bɔy pikin day na grɔn wit wan lita jɔg we gɛt pent stripa we bin de nia de.
Di we aw Harisin bin no bɔt mɛtilin klorayd bin ɛp am fɔ translet in bɔy pikin in pɔyzin ɛn ɔtopsi ripɔt dɛn to klia rizin we mek i day. Dis klia wan de mek wan strɔng bɛnifit fɔ akshɔn.
Bɔrku tɛm, wae pɔrsin gɛt kεmεkal kin mek pɔrsin gɛt wɛl bɔdi prɔblɛm fɔ lɔng tɛm wae nɔr kin no fɔ bɔrku ia. Pɔlyushɔn kin bi dis sem stori. Bɔt if yu want gɔvmɛnt dɛn fɔ tek akshɔn fɔ sɔlv dɛn kayn bad tin ya, risach we dɛn de du pan akademik biznɛs stil na fayn say fɔ bigin.
Wan men tin we mek dɛn gɛt sakrifays na di kɔnekshɔn we di famili gɛt wit grup dɛn we dɔn ɔlrɛdi de wok pan kemikal sefty biznɛs ɛn wit dɛnsɛf.
Fɔ ɛgzampul, Lauren Atkins bin fɛn wan Change.org petishɔn bɔt methylene chloride prodak dɛm frɔm di advokesi grup Safe Chemicals for Healthy Families (we dɛn de kɔl naw Toxic Free Future) ɛn i bin sayn di petishɔn fɔ mɛmba in bɔy pikin we i jɔs lɔs. Brian Wayne bin es in an kwik kwik wan.
Pawaful sojaman dɛn dɔn jɔyn an fɔ rili no di bɛnifit dɛn we dɛn gɛt. If di EPA nɔ tek akshɔn, dɛn famili ya nɔ go nid fɔ bigin frɔm skrach bay we dɛn de fos di wan dɛn we de sɛl fɔ pul di prɔdak dɛn na dɛn shelf: Safer Chemicals Healthier Families bin lanch dɛn “Mind the Stores” kampen fɔ ansa dis kayn kɔl.
Dɛn nɔ nid fɔ fɛnɔt di ɛjɛnshi lɔ ɔ di insay wok we dɛn de du fɔ lobi na Kapitol Hil fɔ dɛnsɛf. Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, ɛn di Envayrɔmɛnt Difɛns Fɔnd gɛt ɛkspɛriɛns pan dis eria.
Rid mɔ: ‘Lifetime burden’: Stɔdi dɔn sho se ol blak pipul dɛn kin day bikɔs ɔf di pwɛl pwɛl we di briz kin day tri tɛm pas di rit we wayt big pipul dɛn kin day
Fɔ Fɛn Langwej pan Klaymɛt Chenj Heather McTeer-Tony Fayt fɔ Envayrɔmɛnt Jɔstis na di Sawt
“We yu kin put togɛda wan tim lɛk dis ... yu gɛt rili pawaful fɔs,” na so Brian Wynn tɔk, we i pɔynt to di Natural Resources Defense Council as ɔda grup we de aktiv wan fɔ du di kwɛstyɔn.
Nɔto ɔlman we intres pan dis fɛt go ebul fɔ ple pɔblik rol pan am. Fɔ ɛgzampul, pipul dɛn we kɔmɔt na ɔda kɔntri ɛn we nɔ gɛt ligal stetmɛnt fɔ ɔltɛm, kin gɛt bɔku prɔblɛm dɛn na dɛn wokples, ɛn if dɛn nɔ gɛt stetɔs, dat kin mek i nɔ izi ɔ i nɔ kin izi fɔ dɛn fɔ tɔk.
If dɛn famili ya put ɔl dɛn atɛnshɔn pan di EPA, di ɛjɛnsyi nɔ go tek ɛni akshɔn, mɔ we di Trump administreshɔn de push bak pan di rigyuleshɔn dɛn.
Dɛn de put prɛshɔn pan ritayla dɛn bay we dɛn de “manej dɛn stɔ” fɔ nɔ sɛl pent stripa dɛn we gɛt mɛtilin klorayd fɔ sev layf. Petishɔn ɛn protest dɛn bin wok. Di kɔmni dɛm we inklud Home Depot ɛn Walmart dɔn gri fɔ stɔp.
Dɛn de kɔl di mɛmba dɛm na Kɔngres fɔ tek akshɔn tru di Safer Chemicals, Healthier Families ɛn di Envayrɔmɛnt Fɔnd. Dɛn bin go na Washinton wit famili foto dɛn na dɛn an. Dɛn tɔk to ripota dɛn ɛn dɛn gɛt nyus ripɔt we mek di tɛnsiɔn mɔ ɛn mɔ.
Di sɛnatɔ dɛn na Sawt Karolina ɛn wan kɔngrigeshɔn mɛmba bin rayt wan lɛta to di Envayrɔmɛnt Protɛkshɔn Ajɛns Administreta we bin de da tɛm de, Skɔt Pruit. Wan ɔda kɔngrigeshɔn mɛmba bin rayz ɔbjɛshɔn to Pruitt we dɛn bin de yɛri di kes insay Epril 2018. Brian Wynn biliv se ɔl dis bin ɛp di famili fɔ arenj fɔ mit wit Pruitt insay May 2018.
Brian Wayne bin tɔk se: “Di sikyɔriti gad bin sɔprayz bikɔs nɔbɔdi nɔ kam to am. “I tan lɛk fɔ mit di big ɛn pawaful land na Ɔz.”
We dɛn bin de go, di famili bin kɛr di kes go na kɔt. Dɛn bin de yuz soshal midia fɔ wɔn pipul dɛn se dɛn nɔ fɔ put dɛnsɛf pan denja. Lauren Atkins bin go na hadwae stoa fɔ si fɔ insɛf if dɛn rili de pul mɛtilin klorayd prɔdak dɛn na dɛn shelf lɛk aw dɛn bin de tɔk. (Sɔntɛnde, yɛs, sɔntɛnde nɔ.)
If dis ɔl tan lɛk se i de taya, yu nɔ rɔng. Bɔt di famili dɛn biliv se i bin klia wetin fɔ dɔn apin if dɛn nɔ bin put an pan di tin.
Lauren Atkins bin tɔk se: “Dɛn nɔ go du natin lɛk se dɛn nɔ ɛva du am bifo.”
Smɔl smɔl win dɛn kin bɔku. Wan tin bin mek ɔda tin apin bikɔs di famili nɔ bin giv ɔp. Bɔku tɛm, i nid fɔ si tin fɔ lɔng tɛm: Fɔ mek di Fɛdaral lɔ dɛn kin slo.
I kin tek sɔm ia ɔ mɔ fɔ mek wan ɛjɛnsy dɔn di risach we dɛn nid fɔ mek dɛn prɔpos wan lɔ. Di prɔpɔzal fɔ win di prɔblɛm dɛn bifo dɛn dɔn am. Bɔt ɛni ristrikshɔn ɔ nyu rikwaymɛnt kin bi smɔl smɔl as tɛm de go.
Wetin alaw famili dɛn fɔ gɛt pat pan ban frɔm di EPA kwik kwik wan na dat di ɛjɛnsy bin put di prɔpɔzal bifo dɛn rili stɔp am. Bɔt na tu ɛn af ia afta we Kɛvin Hatli day bifo di tin dɛn we di Envayrɔmɛnt Protɛkshɔn Ajɛns bin dɔn mek fɔ du sɔntin bigin fɔ wok. Ɛn dɛn nɔ de kɔba di tin dɛn we dɛn kin yuz na wokples, lɛk di wok fɔ peint na bathtub we Kɛvin we ol 21 ia kin du na in wokples.
Bɔt insay wan ɛjɛnshi, difrɛn manija dɛn kin disayd fɔ du difrɛn tin dɛn. Di las tin we di EPA dɔn mek, we dɛn tink se dɛn go adopt insay Ɔgɔst 2024, go ban fɔ yuz mɛtilin klorayd na di wokples fɔ bɔku tin dɛn, ivin fɔ polish bathtub.
Lauren Atkins bin tɔk se: “Yu nid fɔ peshɛnt. Yu fɔ kɔntinyu fɔ bia.” “We i kom to pesin laif, espeshali wen i kom to yu pikin dem, yu de fain am. Straightaway”.
I nɔ izi fɔ mek chenj dɛn. I kin tranga fɔ mek yu gɛt chenj bikɔs yu ɔ pɔsin we yu lɛk dɔn fil bad, pan ɔl we i kin mek yu fil fayn we nɔbɔdi nɔ go ebul fɔ kɔrej yu.
Lauren Atkins wɔn se: “Buckle up, bikɔs dis go bi emotional disaster.” “Pipul dɛn kin aks mi ɔltɛm, pan ɔl we i kin fil bad ɛn i nɔ kin izi fɔ mi, wetin mek a kin kɔntinyu fɔ du dis? Mi ansa dɔn de ɔltɛm ɛn i go bi se: “So yu nɔ nid fɔ sidɔm bak.” mi ples so yu noh nid foh de arawnd mi igen.
I bin tɔk se: “Aw yu de wok we yu dɔn lɔs af pan yusɛf?Sɔntɛnde a kin tink se in at bin stɔp fɔ bit ɛn mi at bin stɔp fɔ bit di sem de.” "Bɔt bikɔs a nɔ want ɔda pipul fɔ go tru dis ɛn a nɔ want ɔda pipul fɔ lɔs wetin Jɔshwa lɔs, na dat na mi gol. A rɛdi fɔ du ɛnitin we i nid."
Brian Wynne gɛt dis sem tin ɛn i kin advays yu fɔ du sɔm tin dɛn we go mek yu nɔ strɛs fɔ ɛp yu fɔ dɔn wan maratɔn. Di jim na in yon. I bin tɔk se: “Yu fɔ fɛn usay fɔ pul di we aw yu de fil.”
Wendy Hartley dɔn kam fɔ no se aktivism de mɛn insɛf – tru di sɔpɔt we ɔda famili dɛn de gi ɛn di rizɔlt dɛn we dɛn kin gɛt togɛda.
As pɔsin we de gi ɔgan, in bɔy pikin bin afɛkt ɔda pipul dɛn layf dairekt wan. I de mek wi gladi fɔ si in lɛgsi de go bifo mɔ to stoa shelf dɛn ɛn go insay di ɔl dɛn na gɔvmɛnt.
I bin rayt se: “Kɛvin bin sev bɔku ɔda pipul dɛn layf, ɛn i go kɔntinyu fɔ sev pipul dɛn layf fɔ lɔng lɔng tɛm.”
If yu de push fɔ chenj, i izi fɔ tink se lɔbi pipul dɛn we de spɛn mɔni fɔ mentɛn di stetɔs kɔo go win ɔltɛm. Bɔt yu layf ɛkspiriɛns kin kɛr wet we yu nɔ go ebul fɔ bay.
“If yu sabi fɔ tɛl yu stori, ɛn na pat pan yu layf, den yu kin du am — ɛn we yu kin tɛl da stori de, gud lak, lɔbis,” Brian Wayne bin tɔk. “Wi de kam wit wan pawa ɛn lɔv we nɔbɔdi nɔ ebul fɔ kɔmpia.”
Advays we Wendy Hartley gi: “Nɔ fred fɔ sho aw yu de fil.” Tɔk bɔt aw dɛn filin ya kin afɛkt yu ɛn yu famili. “Sho dɛn pasɔnal impak tru foto dɛn.”
Lauren Atkins bin tɔk se: “Siks ia bifo dis tɛm, if sɔmbɔdi bin se, ‘If yu ala lawd wan, di gɔvmɛnt fɔ dɔn yɛri,’ a bin fɔ dɔn laf.” "Gɛs wetin? Wan vɔys kin mek difrɛns. A tink se dat na pat pan mi bɔy pikin in lɛgsi."
Jamie Smith Hopkins na ripɔta fɔ di Center for Public Integrity, we na wan nyusrum we nɔ de du biznɛs ɛn we de chɛk aw pipul dɛn nɔ ikwal.