Woman tells of chemical fire effects

Press, 8 December 1988, Page 16

Woman tells of chemical fire effects

PA Wellington An industrial chemist says she has suffered the same health problems as the firefighters who fought the 1.C.1. chemical fire in Auckland four years ago. Ms Jo Mullis, aged 56, of Lower Hutt, has experienced numerous medical complaints since she helped clean up after a chemical fire in Seaview in 1980. She said she had decided to speak out about the lack of action and compensation for her problems and supported calls for an inquiry into the Auckland fire. Ms Mullis was an industrial chemist at Expandite Limited when a fire ripped through the premises in 1980.

The next day she and other workers helped to clean up. “You know what it’s like, you get into it with your broom and bucket. We all pitched in. It was the whole staff, but we from the lab were only wearing our lab coats and gumboots.”

Over the next five years, Ms Mullis suffered from various health problems.

She was diagnosed as having ME or Tapanui flu — her hair fell out and she suffered terrible skin problems.

Because of the effects, she did not want to be photographed. “I have exactly the same symptoms as the (1.C.1.) firemen.” Eventually, after having to take much time off work, she was asked to

leave her job. The Health information director for Open Forum, Mr Keith Alcorn, said ME was a condition where a person’s immune system had cracked up due to chemical toxicity. “When you have an immune system that can’t cope with that you get all the viruses and the problems. Hers (Ms Mullis’) is a very glaring case.”

Ms Mullis said she could not say she contracted ME as a result of the Expandite fire, but it definitely worsened her problems. “I think it must be ail work-related. It’s chemical poisoning.”, Ms Mullis said she sought compensation through the Accident Compensation Corporation but was declined.