Lesi sihloko sishicilelwe ngokubambisana ne-Center for Public Integrity, insizakalo yezindaba engenzi nzuzo ezinikele ocwaningweni ngokungalingani.
Ibhayisikili lokugeza. ungqimba. UKevin Hartley, uDrew Wynn noJoshua Atkins babesebenza zingakapheli izinyanga eziyi-10 beshadile lapho beshona, kodwa babesebenza. Izinto ziyahlukahluka, kodwa isizathu esifinyeza impilo yabo siyafana: amakhemikhali akwimishini yokususa upende neminye imikhiqizo ethengiswa ezitolo. ezweni lonke.
Ngenxa yosizi nokwesaba, imindeni yabo yafunga ukwenza konke okusemandleni ayo ukuvimbela i-methylene chloride ukuthi ingabulali omunye umuntu.
Kodwa e-United States, zimbalwa izitshalo zamakhemikhali eziye zabhekana nesimo esifanayo ngenxa yokuvikelwa kwabasebenzi nabathengi okuxekethile. Ngakho-ke i-methylene chloride yaba ngumbulali obulalayo, naphezu kwezixwayiso mayelana nezingozi zomusi wayo ngisho nangaphambi kokuba kuzalwe uHartley, uWayne no-Atkins. Kubulewe amashumi amaningi, uma kungengaphezulu, emashumini eminyaka amuva nje ngaphandle kokungenelela kwanoma iyiphi inhlangano.
Ngemva kophenyo olwenziwe yi-Centre for Public Integrity kanye nezingcingo ezivela kubameli bezokuphepha, i-US Environmental Protection Agency ekugcineni yaphakamisa ukuvinjelwa okubanzi kokusetshenziswa kwalesi sidakamizwa kuma-striper kapende.
KwakuyiJanuwari 2017, izinsuku zokugcina zombuso ka-Obama. UHartley washona ngo-Ephreli walowo nyaka, uWynn washona ngo-Okthoba walowo nyaka, no-Atkins washona ngoFebhuwari walowo nyaka olandelayo, ngesikhathi lapho uhulumeni kaTrump wayeshisekela khona ukususwa kwemithetho futhi efuna ukususa esikhundleni sokwengeza imithethonqubo—ikakhulukazi imvelo ye-EPA. Isiphakamiso se-methylene chloride asizange sihambe ndawo.
Kodwa-ke, ezinyangeni ezingu-13 ngemva kokushona kuka-Atkins, i-Environmental Protection Agency kaTrump, ngaphansi kwengcindezi, yanquma ukuyeka ukuthengiswa kwemishini yokudweba equkethe i-methylene chloride. Ngo-Ephreli, i-Environmental Protection Agency kaBiden yaphakamisa umthetho ozovimbela ikhemikhali kuyo yonke imikhiqizo yabathengi kanye nezindawo eziningi zokusebenza.
“Asivamile ukwenza lokhu e-United States,” kusho uDkt. Robert Harrison, uprofesa wezokwelapha wezokwelapha kanye nezemvelo eNyuvesi yaseCalifornia, eSan Francisco. “Le mindeni iyiziqhawe zami.”
Nansi indlela abanqobe ngayo izinselele ukuze bathole le miphumela nokuthi yini abangayincoma uma uqala indlela enzima efanayo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi isimo sihilela imikhiqizo eyingozi, indawo yokusebenza engaphephile, ukungcola noma okunye ukulimala.
“Ku-Google konke,” kusho uBrian Wynn, umfowabo oneminyaka engu-31 ubudala uDrew othenge i-methylene chloride ukuze avuselele isitolo sakhe sekhofi esibandayo saseSouth Carolina kanye nesiqandisi esingangeniswa. “Nokufinyelela kubantu.”
Yileyo ndlela athola ngayo i-Public Integrity Inquiry, eyanyatheliswa eminyakeni emibili ngaphambi kokushona komfowabo, exhumana nochwepheshe futhi efunda konke kusukela lapho ayengathenga khona umkhiqizo kuya ekutheni kungani ukufa kwakunzima kangaka ukukulandelela. (Intuthu ye-methylene chloride iyabulala uma iqongelela ezindaweni ezivalekile, futhi ingabangela ukuhlaselwa yinhliziyo okufana nokufa kwemvelo uma kungekho muntu owenza ukuhlolwa kwe-toxicology.)
Iseluleko esivela kuWendy Hartley, unina kaKevin: “I-Academic” yigama eliyisihluthulelo ekusesheni. Kungase kube nohlu olubanzi locwaningo olukulindele lapho. “Lokhu kuzosiza ukuhlukanisa imibono namaqiniso,” kubhala yena ku-imeyili.
ULauren Atkins, unina kaJoshua oneminyaka engu-31 ubudala, owashona ngesikhathi elungisa ifoloko yebhayisikili ye-BMX, wakhuluma noHarrison we-UCSF izikhathi eziningana. NgoFebhuwari 2018, wathola indodana yakhe ifile phansi nebhodlela elilitha lomshini wokupenda lilele eduze.
Ulwazi lukaHarrison nge-methylene chloride lwamsiza ekuhumusheni imibiko yobuthi bendodana yakhe kanye nokuhlolwa kwesidumbu kube imbangela ecacile yokufa. Lokhu kucaca kudala isisekelo esiqinile sesenzo.
Ngokuvamile, ukuchayeka kumakhemikhali kungabangela imiphumela yezempilo yesikhathi eside kubantu engase ingabonakali iminyaka eminingi. Ukungcola kungaba yindaba efanayo. Kodwa uma ufuna ohulumeni bathathe isinyathelo sokubhekana nomonakalo onjalo, ucwaningo lwezemfundo luseyindawo enhle yokuqala.
Umthombo oyinhloko wempumelelo yabo kwakuwukuxhumana komndeni namaqembu ayesevele esebenza ezindabeni zokuphepha kwamakhemikhali kanye nomunye nomunye.
Isibonelo, uLauren Atkins wathola isicelo se-Change.org mayelana nemikhiqizo ye-methylene chloride evela eqenjini elikhuthazayo i-Safe Chemicals for Healthy Families (manje eyi-Toxic Free Future) wasayina isicelo sokukhumbula indodana yakhe esanda kulahleka. UBrian Wayne welula isandla sakhe ngokushesha.
Amandla anamandla ahlangene ukuze aqaphele ngokugcwele izinzuzo zawo. Ngaphandle kwesenzo esivela ku-EPA, le mindeni ngeke kudingeke iqale phansi ngokuphoqa abathengisi ukuthi basuse imikhiqizo emashalofini abo: I-Safer Chemicals Healthier Families yethule umkhankaso wayo othi “Mind the Stores” ukuphendula lolu hlobo lwesicelo.
Akudingeki ukuthi bathole imithetho ye-ejensi noma ukusebenza kwangaphakathi kokunxenxa eCapitol Hill ngokwabo. Amakhemikhali Aphephile, Imindeni Enempilo, kanye ne-Environmental Defense Fund banolwazi kulo mkhakha.
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“Uma ungahlanganisa iqembu elinjengaleli … unamandla amakhulu ngempela,” kusho uBrian Wynn, ekhomba i-Natural Resources Defense Council njengelinye iqembu elilandela ngenkuthalo lolu daba.
Akuwona wonke umuntu onentshisekelo kule mpi ozokwazi ukudlala indima yomphakathi kuyo. Isibonelo, abokufika abangenaso isimo esisemthethweni esihlala njalo babhekene nengozi enkulu yezingozi emsebenzini, futhi ukuntuleka kwesimo kungenza kube nzima noma kungenzeki ngabo ukukhuluma.
Uma le mindeni igxila konke ukunaka kwayo ku-EPA, i-ejensi ingase ingathathi sinyathelo, ikakhulukazi uma kubhekwa ukucindezela kukahulumeni kaTrump emithethweni.
Bafaka ingcindezi kubathengisi “ngokuphatha izitolo zabo” ukuthi bangathengisi ama-paint stripper aqukethe i-methylene chloride ukuze basindise izimpilo. Izicelo kanye nemibhikisho kusebenze. Izinkampani ezihlanganisa i-Home Depot kanye ne-Walmart zivumile ukuyeka.
Bacela amalungu eCongress ukuthi athathe isinyathelo nge-Safer Chemicals, Healthier Families kanye ne-Environment Fund. Baye eWashington bephethe izithombe zomndeni. Bakhulume nezintatheli futhi bathola imibiko yezindaba eyakhulisa ukungezwani.
AmaSeneta aseNingizimu Carolina kanye nelungu lePhalamende babhalele uScott Pruitt owayengumphathi we-Environmental Protection Agency incwadi. Elinye ilungu lePhalamende laphakamisa ukuphikisa kuPruitt ngesikhathi sokulalelwa kwecala ngo-Ephreli 2018. UBrian Wynn ukholelwa ukuthi konke lokhu kwasiza umndeni ukuhlela umhlangano noPruitt ngoMeyi 2018.
“Unogada washaqeka ngoba akekho oweza kuye,” kusho uBrian Wayne. “Kufana kakhulu nokuhlangana nezwe elikhulu nelinamandla lase-Oz.”
Endleleni, umndeni wafaka icala. Basebenzise izinkundla zokuxhumana ukuxwayisa abantu ukuthi bangazibeki engozini. ULauren Atkins waya ezitolo zehadiwe ukuze azibonele ukuthi ngabe empeleni babesusa imikhiqizo ye-methylene chloride emashalofini abo njengoba besho. (Ngezinye izikhathi yebo, ngezinye izikhathi cha.)
Uma konke lokhu kubonakala kuyisicefe, awuphosisi. Kodwa imindeni ikholelwa ukuthi bekusobala ukuthi ngabe kwenzekeni ukube ayizange ingenelele.
“Akukho okuzokwenziwa,” kusho uLauren Atkins, “njengokungakaze kwenziwe ngaphambili.”
Ukunqoba okuncane kuyaphindaphindeka. Into eyodwa yaholela kwenye ngoba umndeni awuzange udikibale. Umbono wesikhathi eside uvame ukudingeka: Ukwakhiwa kwemithetho kahulumeni kuhamba kancane ngokwemvelo.
Kungathatha iminyaka eminingana noma ngaphezulu ukuthi i-ejensi iqedele ucwaningo oludingekayo ukuze kuphakanyiswe umthetho. Isiphakamiso kumele sinqobe izithiyo ngaphambi kokuba siphothulwe. Kodwa-ke, noma yimiphi imikhawulo noma izidingo ezintsha zingase ziqaliswe kancane kancane ngokuhamba kwesikhathi.
Okwavumela imindeni ukuthi ivinjelwe ingxenye ye-EPA ngokushesha ukuthi i-ejensi yabeka lesi siphakamiso ngaphambi kokusimisa ngempela. Kodwa kwakungemva kweminyaka emibili nengxenye uKevin Hartley eshonile ngaphambi kokuba imikhawulo ye-Environmental Protection Agency iqale ukusebenza. Futhi ayimbozi ukusetshenziswa kwendawo yokusebenza, njengomsebenzi wokupenda ibhavu owenziwa uKevin oneminyaka engu-21 emsebenzini.
Kodwa-ke, ngaphakathi kwe-ejensi kungase kube nezinqumo ezahlukene ezenziwa abaphathi abahlukene. Isiphakamiso sakamuva se-EPA, okulindeleke ukuthi samukelwe ngo-Agasti 2024, sizovimbela ukusetshenziswa kwe-methylene chloride endaweni yokusebenza ngezinhloso eziningi, okuhlanganisa nokupholisha ibhavu.
“Kudingeka ubekezele. Kufanele uphikelele,” kusho uLauren Atkins. “Uma kukhulunywa ngempilo yomunye umuntu, ikakhulukazi uma kukhulunywa ngezingane zakho, uyakuthola. Ngokushesha”.
Ukwenza izinguquko kunzima. Kungaba nzima ukuletha ushintsho ngoba wena noma umuntu omthandayo ulimele, yize kunganikeza induduzo okungekho okunye okungakunikeza.
“Zibophe, ngoba lokhu kuzoba yinhlekelele engokomzwelo,” kuxwayisa uLauren Atkins. “Abantu bangibuza ngaso sonke isikhathi, noma ngabe kungokomzwelo futhi kunzima kangakanani, kungani ngiqhubeka ngenza lokhu? Impendulo yami ibilokhu iyilokhu futhi izohlala iyilokhu: “Ngakho akudingeki uhlale phansi.” indawo yami. Ngakho-ke akudingeki ube eduze kwami.
“Usebenza kanjani uma usulahlekelwe ingxenye yakho? Ngezinye izikhathi ngicabanga ukuthi inhliziyo yakhe yayeka ukushaya kanti nenhliziyo yami yayeka ukushaya ngalolo suku,” kusho yena. “Kodwa ngoba angifuni abanye abantu badlule kulokhu futhi angifuni abanye abantu balahlekelwe yilokho uJoshua akulahlekelwa yikho, yilowo umgomo wami. Ngikulungele ukwenza noma yini edingekayo.”
UBrian Wynne unemicabango efanayo futhi uncoma eminye imisebenzi yokunciphisa ukucindezeleka ukuze akusize uqedele umjaho we-marathon. Ijimu ngeyakhe. “Kufanele uthole indlela yokukhipha imizwa yakho,” kusho yena.
UWendy Hartley uthole ukuthi ubushoshovu buyaphulukisa ngokwako – ngokusekelwa eminye imindeni kanye nemiphumela abayifezayo ndawonye.
Njengomnikeli wezitho zomzimba, indodana yakhe yaba nomthelela oqondile empilweni yabanye. Kuyaduduza ukubona ifa lakhe lisabalala emashalofini ezitolo nasemahholo kahulumeni.
“UKevin usindise izimpilo eziningi,” wabhala, “futhi uzoqhubeka nokusindisa izimpilo iminyaka eminingi ezayo.”
Uma ucindezela ushintsho, kulula ukucabanga ukuthi abagqugquzeli bezombusazwe abachitha imali begcina isimo sikhona bazohlala bewina. Kodwa okuhlangenwe nakho kwakho empilweni kunesisindo esingenakuthengwa.
“Uma wazi ukuthi ungayilandisa kanjani indaba yakho, futhi iyingxenye yempilo yakho, ungakwenza lokho — futhi uma ungakwazi ukuyilandisa leyo ndaba, ngikufisela inhlanhla, bagqugquzeli,” kusho uBrian Wayne. “Siza nothando olungenakuqhathaniswa.”
Iseluleko esivela kuWendy Hartley: “Ungesabi ukuveza imizwa yakho.” Khuluma ngomthelela le mizwa enawo kuwe nomndeni wakho. “Babonise umthelela womuntu siqu ngezithombe.”
“Eminyakeni eyisithupha edlule, ukube othile wayethe, ‘Uma umemeza kakhulu ngokwanele, uhulumeni ngabe uzwile,’ ngabe ngihlekile,” kusho uLauren Atkins. “Uyazi? Izwi elilodwa lingenza umehluko. Ngicabanga ukuthi lokho kuyingxenye yefa lendodana yami.”
UJamie Smith Hopkins uyintatheli ye-Center for Public Integrity, igumbi lezindaba elingenzi nzuzo elihlola ukungalingani.