A former graduate student at Michigan State University is suing the school for $ 100 million, claiming she was diagnosed with cancer after her work exposed her to dangerous chemicals.
Ling Long Wei, an international student from China, works as a research associate in Michigan from 2008 to 2011 while winning a master’s degree from the school gardening program. Wei filed a case this month, claiming that she had developed thyroid cancer after her work exposed her to pesticides and herbicides without appropriate training or safety equipment.
Michigan Amber McCan’s spokesman declined to comment onThe independent, Referring to waiting court disputes. However, she said that the school “prioritizes the health and safety of our entire community on the campus.”
“The appropriate and necessary training and the necessary personal protective equipment is provided in accordance with the applicable university policies and state and federal laws,” McCan said.
Wei’s “dream” was to study in Michigan, a leading scientific school of agriculture, her lawyer Maya Green said at a press conference on Monday. When she arrived for the first time, Wei was required to work as a student research associate and to do field research as part of her coursework, the court said.
Ling Long Wei, a former graduate student at Michigan State University, is suing the school for $ 100 million. Wei claims her work for the school exposed her to dangerous chemicals that later led to cancer diagnosis (WWMT)
As part of this field research, Wei’s supervisory bodies told her to travel to the outside campus to spray herbicides and pesticides, the lawsuit said. Wei says work can last up to eight hours a day.
Wei claims she did not receive appropriate training a while ago. In addition, she had no “appropriate mask, gloves or motifs” to wear while handling chemicals, the lawsuit said.
“While spraying these toxic chemicals, the wind often blasting the chemicals in the face of G -Wei,” the lawsuit said. “D -Ja Wei was exposed to dangerous pesticides for over 7000 hours, unprotected and untouched.”
Wei says she started having shortness of breath in 2010, but the school’s health center told her that she was due to anxiety. Then her leaders assured her that the chemicals were “safe”, the lawsuit said.
“D -Ja Wei relies on confidence from program bosses and continued to spray the dangerous pesticides and herbicides without [personal protective equipment]Says the lawsuit. – Dajo Wei continued to experience symptoms, but he was afraid to talk about himself due to intimidation and hostile treatment by the superiors of the program. “
View of the Spartan Stadium on the Campus of the State University in Michigan. Wei claims that the school has not provided her protective equipment or training while she sprays pesticides (Getty Images)
Working with these pesticides without proper training or equipment caused the Wei to develop papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland, according to the judicial process. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common form of thyroid cancer, representing about 80 percent of cases, according to the University of Thyroid Center in Colombia.
Wei was diagnosed in 2024 and underwent a series of medical procedures and surgery to treat her cancer, “the court said. Wei said the cancer had left her with hormonal imbalances that cause her fatigue and would make it difficult to have children. Her cancer can also return.
“My recovery trip was very challenging,” Wei said at a press conference. “After undergoing my thyroid cancer surgery, I had to adapt to take medication every day to regulate the levels of my hormones.”
“I will have to take thyroid pills every day for the rest of my life,” she added. “I will live with my permanent mark and I will always have to fight against depression due to hormonal imbalances.”
Independent contacted Wei’s lawyer for comment.
Cancer researchers are still studying the exact link between pesticides and cancer.
Some pesticides are carcinogens and are related to cases of cancer, according to the National Pesticide Information Center, a joint initiative of the State University of Oregon and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Exposure to pesticide, which is a carcinogen, does not mean that the diagnosis of cancer is secure, but it means a greater risk than if a person is not exposed, says the center.
It is difficult for doctors to determine exactly what causes the patient’s cancer, according to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a leading research and treatment center.
“It is almost impossible to identify an individual case of cancer of a particular culprit with 100 percent security,” the center said.