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76th Year No. 273 Good Morning! It's Friday, August 10, 1984 3 Sections 18 Pages 25 Cents House holds off on amendments to toxic waste law Democrats want bigger ' Super fund' WASHINGTON ( UPI) - The House bogged down in debate Thursday over amendments to a politically popular bill that would extend and expand the " Superfund" toxic waste cleanup program by six- fol- d to $ 10 2 billion overfive years The bill appeared headed toward passage because of its political appeal in this election year, but'some key supporters of Superfund legislation" warned that House Democrats may have doomed it to failure by merging it with another hazardous waste regulation bill. Debate on the Superfund was scheduled to resime today, when a vote is expected. The move to merge the bills is an effort to pressure the Reagan administration and the Republican- controlle- d Senate to support ma-jor expansion of the programs or risk politi-cal fallout in November. A Republican co- spons- or of Superfund ex-pansion, Rep. Norman Lent of New York, called the bill merger a " politically moti-vated election- ye- ar strategy" that would give the Senate a " take- i- t or- leave- - it pack-age." Senate rejection of the environmental leg-islative package would strengthen Demo-cratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale ui attacking the much- malign- ed environ-mental record of President Reagan and the GOP The Senate Environment Committee is considering a Superfund bill generally con-sidered to be weaker than the House version. The House joined the two pieces of envi-ronmental legislation on a 218- 1- 99 vote Thursday, despite a warning from Senate Environment Committee Chairman Robert Stafford, R- V- t., that the move " could jeopar-dize both bills." An industry group, the Hazardous Waste Treatment Council, said the merger " will ensure the demise of both bills in this session of Congress " The measure attached to the Superfund is a reauthorization of the Resource Conserva-tion and Recovery Act, wluch provides for " cradle- to- grave- " management of new chemical waste production It already has been passed by both the House-- and Senate, although differences between the two ver-sions must be resolved in conference com-mittee House Democrats, led by Rep. James Florio, D-- N J , successfully pushed for the bill merger, arguing it would strengthen the House bargaining position in negotiating with the Senate on toxic waste legislation The House then spent more than six hours discussing a series of amendments to the Su-perfund bill, bogging down in debate on the complex quesbon of compensation for vic-tims of toxic waste exposure. Florio argued for drastic expansion of the Superfund, declaring, " There is no environ-mental problem more important to the American people than the thousands of aban-doned toxic waste sites which continue to pollute our drinking water ' ' The Superfund formally known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act was en-acted in the waning days of the Carter ad-ministration in late 1980 to provide $ 1 6 bil-lion for cleaning up the nation's worst toxic waste sites. Money for the expanded Superfund pro-gram would come from a tax on chemical production. The House bill would cost the chemical and petrochemical industries $ 8 billion over the next five years, supple-mented by more than $ 2 billion from the Treasury. Rep James Broyhill, R- N- C, contended some provisions could burden the Environ-mental Protection Agency with unrealistic cleanup requirements and create more prob-lems with citizen suits involving waste clean-up " My guess is this will slow down the pace of cleanup activity," he said. Flono insisted the Superfund's " basic pro-gram must be restructured to contain built- i- n guarantees against any repetition of the first few unfortunate years of Superfund's troubledhistory." More than 20 top EPA officials including former Admimstratoi1 Anne Burford were - fired or forced to resign last year when the agency was engulfed in scandal last year over mismanagement of the Superfund. The bill would establish a mandatory cleanup schedule, allow toxic waste victims to sue in federal court and create a program to regulate and clean up leaking under-ground gasoline and chemical storage tanks. Support for the Superfund has grown since it became apparent that experts underesti-mated the magnitude of the waste problem. To date, only sue sites have been completely cleaned up, although some work has begun on virtually all of the 542 sites on the EPA's National Priority List of Superfund locales. The EPA estimates there may be as many as 22,000 abandoned waste sites fouling the national landscape UMC staff pay raises may be devoured by other employee costs By Mary Helen Landolt Missourlan staff writer Sometimes it seems that when UMC em-ployees are concerned, there's a cloud for every silver lining Employees who were to receive salary in-creases realize they will still be among the lowest paid among major universities m the Midwest What few realized when they learned this summer that they are in line for raises is that a sizable chunk of those raises will be devoured by escalating costs that are being passed along by their employer. Employee medical and dental health bene-fit rates are going up, as are tuition fees, parking rates and fees for family members to use recreational facilities. For the first time in two years, the Univer-sity system has been able to set aside funds for salary increases. Not everyone will get one there simply isn't enough to go around but many can expect a minimum of 5 per- centm- ore during the coming academic year. 0flT Senior secretaries, whose salaries average $ 12,230 a year, are among those who will re-ceive increases. If each of them receives the minimum raise, salaries for the coming year will average $ 12,894. It will be difficult to stretch the $ 814 differ-ence very far. A portion of it will go immedi-ately for taxes. Then there will be $ 61.80 to cover the difference in the cost of the typical $ 100 deductible medical benefit plan, which will increase from $ 247.32 to $ 309.12. The cost of $ 100 deductible dental benefits will go up $ 5.40 a year - from $ 41.64 to $ 47.04 for an employee insuring only him or herself. Employees or family members enrolled at UMC will face an average tuition increase of $ 42 a semester, undergraduate, and $ 70 a se-mester, graduate, neither of which takes into consideration increases in fees for specific programs. Parking rates will go up $ 36 a year from $ 48 to $ 84. And fees for wives or husbands who use recreational faculties will increase 75 cents a visit, $ 15 every four months, or $ 45 a year. In other words, a secretary who takes ad-vantage of such benefits and services could wind up with less than $ 400 a year in gross in-come after she or he gets a raise. Stretching the paycheck is even more diffi-cult for a widowed secretary with children. Her medical benefit rates will go up $ 278 88 a year from $ 1,115 04 to $ 1,393.92. The dental benefit rate will increase $ 26.40 from $ 202.68 to $ 229.08. Most faculty members earn more and will be less dramatically affected. But those who don't receive raises and some staff members who do will never see a cent in additional in-come. In fact, some stand to find themselves with considerably less spendable income next year. Increases in medical and dental rates charged to the 4,000 UMC employees in the programs will become effective Oct 1 Mike Paden, manager of University em-ployee benefits, said the medical benefits plan increase is necessary to help the Uni-versity keep up with rising administrative costs for processing claims, as well as in-creases in health costs. Leroy Sharp, supervisor of University sys-tem personnel services and staff relations, added that increases in the number of re-tired faculty and staff also contributes to the need for more funding. This segment usually has higher claims, Paden explained, and higher claims mean higher premiums for the group insurance program But the increase in insurance rates also will help fund a rise in maximum death ben-efits, which will be boosted from $ 500,000 to $ 1 million per participant, Paden said. The last tune such benefits were increased was in 1978, when they went from $ 250,000 to $ 500,000 Medical claims by UMC employees and their dependents have increased over the past 10 years to a total of more than $ 4 7 mil-lion in 1983 and have contributed to the rising cost of the insurance program, according to Paden David Leuthold, chairman of the UMC Faculty Council, said the administration is concerned and is attempting to develop al-ternatives to lighten the financial burden to employees " Too much of the faculty's income is being spent on medical care, which will cut into the salary increases," Leuthold said Mane Piva, who is a student as well as a full- tim- e library assistant is one of those who may not see much of her pay increase She pointed out that she is among those em-ployees who will receive a raise but that she anticipates winding up with little left over this year after paying for medical benefits, tuition and books She called the increases ri-diculous Michael Diamond, an assistant professor See UMC, Page 7A Diseased bandage lawsuit produces million dollar scar By Gabriel Shapiro Missourlan staff writer Evidence that reads like a Quincy script led this week to the largest jury award in Boone County history. If not successfully contested, the verdict will require a Connecticut- base- d bandage manufacturer to pay a 49- year-- old Univer-sity student from India $ 1.75 millioa The jury ruled Wednesday that an adhesive bandage marketed under the name Elasto- pla- st and manufactured by Beiersdorf Inc. transmitted a disabling infection to Gali, Bhagvandoss. Bhagvandoss was injured when struck by a car while riding his bicycle at the corner of , Stadium Boulevard and Worley Street July, 3, ,1978. Following surgery later that day, incisions in his back were covered by an Elastoplast bandage that the plaintiff claimed was contaminated with a fungus called rhizopus. Willa Adlestsln, an assistant in the Un-iversity Hospital's neurosurgery depart-ment, testified that she noticed the rhizopus infection occurred where the bandage came in contact with Bhagvandoss ' s skin. Research by UMC doctors supported the claim that the source of the infection was the bandages. Bhagvandoss' attorney, Bob Smith of Columbia, argued that Beiersdorf knew its Elastoplast bandages had been contaminated by rhizopus fungal spores. That allegation was supported by evidence that Beiersdorf had learned that fact through such diverse sources as its own laboratory; an independent research agen-cy," the American Biological Laboratory; and the American Center for Disease Con-trol in Atlanta. The plaintiff said the complications from the infection caused him extreme pain dur-ing the 10- d- ay effort to eradicate the rhizo-pus infection and a 15 percent limitation in forward spinal movement He also said his back has been permanently scarred as a re-sult of surgeons having to gouge out flesh harboring the infection " They had to stuff the wound with gauze," Bhagvandoss said, " then pull it out to cause it to bleed. I think my doctors and nurses suffered with me." As a result of the complications, his stay in the hospital had to be extended from two to eight weeks, the suit said. Beiersdorf denied that the infection was caused by its bandages but settled out of court in at least three other similar suits. The Columbia suit was the first in which Beiersdorf attempted to defend itself in court " The whole problem was to prove that Beiersdorf knew about the rhizopus prob-- lem," Smith said The key to establishing a case came when he located Cornelia Dams- k- y, a former microbiologist for Beiersdorf. Damsky issued a hold order on distribu-tion of Elastoplast following discovery in the company lab that some of the bandages were contaminated. But, she said, Beiers-dorf president Peter Metzger overruled her order. There was other evidence that Beiersdorf was aware of the problem. " The FDA advised Beiersdorf Oct 11, 1977, that sue cases of rhizopus had been re-ported at the Mayo Clinic," Smith told the jury. " But they didn't tell anyone about the problem associated with their bandages." Smith said the company also was in-formed by the Center for Disease Control about the six Mayo Clinic cases. And offi-cials of the American Hospital Supply Corp. said they told Beiersdorf that the FDA had discovered Elastoplast bandages contami-nated with rhizopus. Clayton Dillavou, senior micrologist for Athe UJ5. military, said military hospitals had identified the same problem " But they didn't do anything about it un-til March 8, when they sent a letter out to the hospitals," Smith said of Beiersdorf. " The letter failed to advise hospitals of the rhizopus problem and wrongfully stated it had received no complaints. " In May 1978, Smith said, Beiersdorf re-ceived an early draft of a Disease Control Center report that identified rhizopus prob-lems in 10 other hospitals At that point Beiersdorf began treating newly manufactured bandages in an effort to kill the rhizopus spores, Smith said " But they never recalled the rhizopus- in- fecte- d bandages already sent out," he added " It was a marketing decision." Hamp Ford of Columbia, who argued the case for Beiersdorf, said he intends to file for a new trial or a motion to set aside the verdict Regardless, Bhagvandoss said, he is glad to have had an opportunity to present his case. " Consumers must know that they can stand up to huge companies." i Sho- ye- n Lfn photos Jim McFadin naps while his daughter Heather McFadin, 13, and Brendan Danelsson, 10, play. Outdoor workers beat heat Summer can be dangerous WBEhZ9BBBEi By Susan Mock Missourlan staff writer With temperatures touching the 100- degr- ee mark this week, Columbia's outdoor workers are trying their best to keep their cool. Rick Cole and Roy Morns are part of the Crawford Construction team that has been installing the city's bnck crosswalks Work-ing this week at the corner of Seventh and Cherry streets, the pair say they beat the heat by drinking plenty of fluids and taking breaks in the shade whenever possible. Cole says they begin work at 7 a m. and finish at 3: 30 pm. "( During) the heat of the day, we are get-ting off work by then," Cole says Truck driver Mike Miller has a less com-mon heat- relat- ed problem His job with Mis-souri Purveyors, 2614 Calvert Drive, re-quires him to endure temperature extremes as he moves back and forth between freezing meat lockers and the heat of the outdoors. Miller says he has gotten used to working in hot and cold environments. ' ' It doesn't really bother me to go back into the heat," he says. Other people have found the summer tem-peratures more difficult to handle. Vincel Gray of 203 Redwood Drive says there's no way to cope with the heat. " You just come outside when you have to," he says. Gray's hot- weath- er philosophy makes a great deal of sense, especially since extreme temperatures can cause three health prob-- Farmers plagued by no rain Page 8A lems. Outdoor conditions, such as the ones expe-rienced in Columbia this week, can be re-sponsible for heat faint, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, says Bernard Ewigman, a fel-low in the Department of Family and Com-munity Medicine at the University School of Medicine, Victims of heat faint feel dizzy and can pass out, Ewigman says. Heat faint can oc-cur duringthe early stages of heat stroke Heat exhaustion results from not having enough fluids in the body. Those who lose a great deal of body fluids without drinking enough to replace them, can suffer from heat exhaustion. Symptoms include dizziness, headaches, nausea and fatigue. Unless the case is severe, those afflicted with heat ex-haustion can find relief by drinking six to eight quarts of fluid within 24 hours after the symptoms appear. The most serious and life- threateni- ng of the hot weather sicknesses is heat stroke Heat stroke causes the body's temperature- regulatin- g mechanism to stop working. As a result, the heart beats faster in an effort to get more blood to the skin's surface to cool off The temperature generally reaches 104 degrees or higher, Ewigman says. Heat stroke can come on rapidly and with little warning Ewigman says it may cause See TIPS, Page 8A xj&$ U 4j'x: w-- Vs- v. -- 7. - yi O I ' V. Ill Gordan Cal, 13, takes a dive.
Object Description
Title | Columbia Missourian Newspaper 1984-08-10 |
Description | Vol. 76th Year, No. 273 |
Subject |
Columbia (Mo.) -- Newspapers Boone County (Mo.) -- Newspapers |
Coverage | United States -- Missouri -- Boone County -- Columbia |
Language | English |
Date.Search | 1984-08-10 |
Type | Newspaper |
Format | |
Collection Name | Columbia Missourian Newspaper Collection |
Publisher.Digital | The Office of Library Systems of the University of Missouri |
Contributing Institution |
State Historical Society of Missouri University of Missouri School of Journalism |
Copy Request | Contact the State Historical Society of Missouri at: (800) 747-6366 or (573) 882-7083 or email contact@shsmo.org. Some fees apply:http://shsmo.org/research/researchfees |
Description
Title | Full Page |
Date.Search | 1984-08-10 |
Type | page |
Item.Transcript | 76th Year No. 273 Good Morning! It's Friday, August 10, 1984 3 Sections 18 Pages 25 Cents House holds off on amendments to toxic waste law Democrats want bigger ' Super fund' WASHINGTON ( UPI) - The House bogged down in debate Thursday over amendments to a politically popular bill that would extend and expand the " Superfund" toxic waste cleanup program by six- fol- d to $ 10 2 billion overfive years The bill appeared headed toward passage because of its political appeal in this election year, but'some key supporters of Superfund legislation" warned that House Democrats may have doomed it to failure by merging it with another hazardous waste regulation bill. Debate on the Superfund was scheduled to resime today, when a vote is expected. The move to merge the bills is an effort to pressure the Reagan administration and the Republican- controlle- d Senate to support ma-jor expansion of the programs or risk politi-cal fallout in November. A Republican co- spons- or of Superfund ex-pansion, Rep. Norman Lent of New York, called the bill merger a " politically moti-vated election- ye- ar strategy" that would give the Senate a " take- i- t or- leave- - it pack-age." Senate rejection of the environmental leg-islative package would strengthen Demo-cratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale ui attacking the much- malign- ed environ-mental record of President Reagan and the GOP The Senate Environment Committee is considering a Superfund bill generally con-sidered to be weaker than the House version. The House joined the two pieces of envi-ronmental legislation on a 218- 1- 99 vote Thursday, despite a warning from Senate Environment Committee Chairman Robert Stafford, R- V- t., that the move " could jeopar-dize both bills." An industry group, the Hazardous Waste Treatment Council, said the merger " will ensure the demise of both bills in this session of Congress " The measure attached to the Superfund is a reauthorization of the Resource Conserva-tion and Recovery Act, wluch provides for " cradle- to- grave- " management of new chemical waste production It already has been passed by both the House-- and Senate, although differences between the two ver-sions must be resolved in conference com-mittee House Democrats, led by Rep. James Florio, D-- N J , successfully pushed for the bill merger, arguing it would strengthen the House bargaining position in negotiating with the Senate on toxic waste legislation The House then spent more than six hours discussing a series of amendments to the Su-perfund bill, bogging down in debate on the complex quesbon of compensation for vic-tims of toxic waste exposure. Florio argued for drastic expansion of the Superfund, declaring, " There is no environ-mental problem more important to the American people than the thousands of aban-doned toxic waste sites which continue to pollute our drinking water ' ' The Superfund formally known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act was en-acted in the waning days of the Carter ad-ministration in late 1980 to provide $ 1 6 bil-lion for cleaning up the nation's worst toxic waste sites. Money for the expanded Superfund pro-gram would come from a tax on chemical production. The House bill would cost the chemical and petrochemical industries $ 8 billion over the next five years, supple-mented by more than $ 2 billion from the Treasury. Rep James Broyhill, R- N- C, contended some provisions could burden the Environ-mental Protection Agency with unrealistic cleanup requirements and create more prob-lems with citizen suits involving waste clean-up " My guess is this will slow down the pace of cleanup activity," he said. Flono insisted the Superfund's " basic pro-gram must be restructured to contain built- i- n guarantees against any repetition of the first few unfortunate years of Superfund's troubledhistory." More than 20 top EPA officials including former Admimstratoi1 Anne Burford were - fired or forced to resign last year when the agency was engulfed in scandal last year over mismanagement of the Superfund. The bill would establish a mandatory cleanup schedule, allow toxic waste victims to sue in federal court and create a program to regulate and clean up leaking under-ground gasoline and chemical storage tanks. Support for the Superfund has grown since it became apparent that experts underesti-mated the magnitude of the waste problem. To date, only sue sites have been completely cleaned up, although some work has begun on virtually all of the 542 sites on the EPA's National Priority List of Superfund locales. The EPA estimates there may be as many as 22,000 abandoned waste sites fouling the national landscape UMC staff pay raises may be devoured by other employee costs By Mary Helen Landolt Missourlan staff writer Sometimes it seems that when UMC em-ployees are concerned, there's a cloud for every silver lining Employees who were to receive salary in-creases realize they will still be among the lowest paid among major universities m the Midwest What few realized when they learned this summer that they are in line for raises is that a sizable chunk of those raises will be devoured by escalating costs that are being passed along by their employer. Employee medical and dental health bene-fit rates are going up, as are tuition fees, parking rates and fees for family members to use recreational facilities. For the first time in two years, the Univer-sity system has been able to set aside funds for salary increases. Not everyone will get one there simply isn't enough to go around but many can expect a minimum of 5 per- centm- ore during the coming academic year. 0flT Senior secretaries, whose salaries average $ 12,230 a year, are among those who will re-ceive increases. If each of them receives the minimum raise, salaries for the coming year will average $ 12,894. It will be difficult to stretch the $ 814 differ-ence very far. A portion of it will go immedi-ately for taxes. Then there will be $ 61.80 to cover the difference in the cost of the typical $ 100 deductible medical benefit plan, which will increase from $ 247.32 to $ 309.12. The cost of $ 100 deductible dental benefits will go up $ 5.40 a year - from $ 41.64 to $ 47.04 for an employee insuring only him or herself. Employees or family members enrolled at UMC will face an average tuition increase of $ 42 a semester, undergraduate, and $ 70 a se-mester, graduate, neither of which takes into consideration increases in fees for specific programs. Parking rates will go up $ 36 a year from $ 48 to $ 84. And fees for wives or husbands who use recreational faculties will increase 75 cents a visit, $ 15 every four months, or $ 45 a year. In other words, a secretary who takes ad-vantage of such benefits and services could wind up with less than $ 400 a year in gross in-come after she or he gets a raise. Stretching the paycheck is even more diffi-cult for a widowed secretary with children. Her medical benefit rates will go up $ 278 88 a year from $ 1,115 04 to $ 1,393.92. The dental benefit rate will increase $ 26.40 from $ 202.68 to $ 229.08. Most faculty members earn more and will be less dramatically affected. But those who don't receive raises and some staff members who do will never see a cent in additional in-come. In fact, some stand to find themselves with considerably less spendable income next year. Increases in medical and dental rates charged to the 4,000 UMC employees in the programs will become effective Oct 1 Mike Paden, manager of University em-ployee benefits, said the medical benefits plan increase is necessary to help the Uni-versity keep up with rising administrative costs for processing claims, as well as in-creases in health costs. Leroy Sharp, supervisor of University sys-tem personnel services and staff relations, added that increases in the number of re-tired faculty and staff also contributes to the need for more funding. This segment usually has higher claims, Paden explained, and higher claims mean higher premiums for the group insurance program But the increase in insurance rates also will help fund a rise in maximum death ben-efits, which will be boosted from $ 500,000 to $ 1 million per participant, Paden said. The last tune such benefits were increased was in 1978, when they went from $ 250,000 to $ 500,000 Medical claims by UMC employees and their dependents have increased over the past 10 years to a total of more than $ 4 7 mil-lion in 1983 and have contributed to the rising cost of the insurance program, according to Paden David Leuthold, chairman of the UMC Faculty Council, said the administration is concerned and is attempting to develop al-ternatives to lighten the financial burden to employees " Too much of the faculty's income is being spent on medical care, which will cut into the salary increases," Leuthold said Mane Piva, who is a student as well as a full- tim- e library assistant is one of those who may not see much of her pay increase She pointed out that she is among those em-ployees who will receive a raise but that she anticipates winding up with little left over this year after paying for medical benefits, tuition and books She called the increases ri-diculous Michael Diamond, an assistant professor See UMC, Page 7A Diseased bandage lawsuit produces million dollar scar By Gabriel Shapiro Missourlan staff writer Evidence that reads like a Quincy script led this week to the largest jury award in Boone County history. If not successfully contested, the verdict will require a Connecticut- base- d bandage manufacturer to pay a 49- year-- old Univer-sity student from India $ 1.75 millioa The jury ruled Wednesday that an adhesive bandage marketed under the name Elasto- pla- st and manufactured by Beiersdorf Inc. transmitted a disabling infection to Gali, Bhagvandoss. Bhagvandoss was injured when struck by a car while riding his bicycle at the corner of , Stadium Boulevard and Worley Street July, 3, ,1978. Following surgery later that day, incisions in his back were covered by an Elastoplast bandage that the plaintiff claimed was contaminated with a fungus called rhizopus. Willa Adlestsln, an assistant in the Un-iversity Hospital's neurosurgery depart-ment, testified that she noticed the rhizopus infection occurred where the bandage came in contact with Bhagvandoss ' s skin. Research by UMC doctors supported the claim that the source of the infection was the bandages. Bhagvandoss' attorney, Bob Smith of Columbia, argued that Beiersdorf knew its Elastoplast bandages had been contaminated by rhizopus fungal spores. That allegation was supported by evidence that Beiersdorf had learned that fact through such diverse sources as its own laboratory; an independent research agen-cy," the American Biological Laboratory; and the American Center for Disease Con-trol in Atlanta. The plaintiff said the complications from the infection caused him extreme pain dur-ing the 10- d- ay effort to eradicate the rhizo-pus infection and a 15 percent limitation in forward spinal movement He also said his back has been permanently scarred as a re-sult of surgeons having to gouge out flesh harboring the infection " They had to stuff the wound with gauze," Bhagvandoss said, " then pull it out to cause it to bleed. I think my doctors and nurses suffered with me." As a result of the complications, his stay in the hospital had to be extended from two to eight weeks, the suit said. Beiersdorf denied that the infection was caused by its bandages but settled out of court in at least three other similar suits. The Columbia suit was the first in which Beiersdorf attempted to defend itself in court " The whole problem was to prove that Beiersdorf knew about the rhizopus prob-- lem," Smith said The key to establishing a case came when he located Cornelia Dams- k- y, a former microbiologist for Beiersdorf. Damsky issued a hold order on distribu-tion of Elastoplast following discovery in the company lab that some of the bandages were contaminated. But, she said, Beiers-dorf president Peter Metzger overruled her order. There was other evidence that Beiersdorf was aware of the problem. " The FDA advised Beiersdorf Oct 11, 1977, that sue cases of rhizopus had been re-ported at the Mayo Clinic," Smith told the jury. " But they didn't tell anyone about the problem associated with their bandages." Smith said the company also was in-formed by the Center for Disease Control about the six Mayo Clinic cases. And offi-cials of the American Hospital Supply Corp. said they told Beiersdorf that the FDA had discovered Elastoplast bandages contami-nated with rhizopus. Clayton Dillavou, senior micrologist for Athe UJ5. military, said military hospitals had identified the same problem " But they didn't do anything about it un-til March 8, when they sent a letter out to the hospitals," Smith said of Beiersdorf. " The letter failed to advise hospitals of the rhizopus problem and wrongfully stated it had received no complaints. " In May 1978, Smith said, Beiersdorf re-ceived an early draft of a Disease Control Center report that identified rhizopus prob-lems in 10 other hospitals At that point Beiersdorf began treating newly manufactured bandages in an effort to kill the rhizopus spores, Smith said " But they never recalled the rhizopus- in- fecte- d bandages already sent out," he added " It was a marketing decision." Hamp Ford of Columbia, who argued the case for Beiersdorf, said he intends to file for a new trial or a motion to set aside the verdict Regardless, Bhagvandoss said, he is glad to have had an opportunity to present his case. " Consumers must know that they can stand up to huge companies." i Sho- ye- n Lfn photos Jim McFadin naps while his daughter Heather McFadin, 13, and Brendan Danelsson, 10, play. Outdoor workers beat heat Summer can be dangerous WBEhZ9BBBEi By Susan Mock Missourlan staff writer With temperatures touching the 100- degr- ee mark this week, Columbia's outdoor workers are trying their best to keep their cool. Rick Cole and Roy Morns are part of the Crawford Construction team that has been installing the city's bnck crosswalks Work-ing this week at the corner of Seventh and Cherry streets, the pair say they beat the heat by drinking plenty of fluids and taking breaks in the shade whenever possible. Cole says they begin work at 7 a m. and finish at 3: 30 pm. "( During) the heat of the day, we are get-ting off work by then," Cole says Truck driver Mike Miller has a less com-mon heat- relat- ed problem His job with Mis-souri Purveyors, 2614 Calvert Drive, re-quires him to endure temperature extremes as he moves back and forth between freezing meat lockers and the heat of the outdoors. Miller says he has gotten used to working in hot and cold environments. ' ' It doesn't really bother me to go back into the heat," he says. Other people have found the summer tem-peratures more difficult to handle. Vincel Gray of 203 Redwood Drive says there's no way to cope with the heat. " You just come outside when you have to," he says. Gray's hot- weath- er philosophy makes a great deal of sense, especially since extreme temperatures can cause three health prob-- Farmers plagued by no rain Page 8A lems. Outdoor conditions, such as the ones expe-rienced in Columbia this week, can be re-sponsible for heat faint, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, says Bernard Ewigman, a fel-low in the Department of Family and Com-munity Medicine at the University School of Medicine, Victims of heat faint feel dizzy and can pass out, Ewigman says. Heat faint can oc-cur duringthe early stages of heat stroke Heat exhaustion results from not having enough fluids in the body. Those who lose a great deal of body fluids without drinking enough to replace them, can suffer from heat exhaustion. Symptoms include dizziness, headaches, nausea and fatigue. Unless the case is severe, those afflicted with heat ex-haustion can find relief by drinking six to eight quarts of fluid within 24 hours after the symptoms appear. The most serious and life- threateni- ng of the hot weather sicknesses is heat stroke Heat stroke causes the body's temperature- regulatin- g mechanism to stop working. As a result, the heart beats faster in an effort to get more blood to the skin's surface to cool off The temperature generally reaches 104 degrees or higher, Ewigman says. Heat stroke can come on rapidly and with little warning Ewigman says it may cause See TIPS, Page 8A xj&$ U 4j'x: w-- Vs- v. -- 7. - yi O I ' V. Ill Gordan Cal, 13, takes a dive. |