6th case of sarcoidosis is confirmed

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6th case of sarcoidosis is confirmed

MATT TUTHILL, Staff Writer

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/headlines/ci_4207555

Vermont

Saturday, August 19

BENNINGTON — The state Department of Health will be conducting tests

for mold, endotoxins, carbon dioxide and beryllium in the state

building on Veterans Memorial Drive beginning next week.

The tests come in response to a meeting of the Vermont State

Employees Association held earlier this month. During the meeting,

employees expressed concern to the health department and the state's

Department of Buildings and General Services about potential health

hazards within the building. At the time, there were five confirmed

cases of sarcoidosis among building workers. The health department

said that two weeks ago the number climbed to six.

Sarcoidosis is a rare inflammation of the lungs that, if left

untreated, can spread to other organs in the body and cause

permanent damage. Rare cases have resulted in death and there is no

known cause. However, studies have shown that workers in the

aerospace industry are more susceptible to contract the ailment due

to exposure to beryllium, a lightweight metal used in the

construction of missiles, spacecraft and satellites.

VSEA field representative Gretchen Naylor said the employees

association is " extremely concerned " about the growing number of

cases. As more employees recognize the symptoms associated with

sarcoidosis and get tested, Naylor added, it's reasonable to believe

the number of cases may continue to rise.

" We're going to aggressively pursue the state to see that no stone

is left unturned and we get to the bottom of this, " Naylor said

Friday. " There is a growing sense of panic amongst employees as more

cases are confirmed. "

One state employee, who agreed to speak on the condition of

anonymity, said employees are frustrated with the health

department's response to the sarcoidosis problem.

" The one question I've been asking the state is how many cases is it

going to take to get people out of this building, " the employee

said.

Lynn Blevins, a state epidemiologist, said the health department is

doing all it can. A health survey of all current employees was

completed Tuesday, she said, but processing the information into

coherent data is a time-consuming process.

Naylor said the building tests will run from Aug. 23 to Aug. 30. The

VSEA, she said, has been told the test results will be available in

late September or early October.

The anonymous employee said the testing is a step in the right

direction, but continuing to work while tests are being conducted

has made some employees feel like " lab rats. "