Former Michigan State Student Says She Got Cancer After Using Chemicals School Called 'harmless'

A former Michigan State grad student blamed her thyroid crab connected nan school, which allegedly told her that "exposure was harmless" erstwhile she worked pinch various pesticides and herbicides, she and her lawyers said connected Monday.

LingLong Wei was diagnosed pinch thyroid crab connected June 26 past twelvemonth successful a wellness downturn that's "directly related to events that took spot during her time" astatine MSU from 2008 and 2011 pursuing a master’s grade successful horticulture, according to a suit revenge successful Ingham County Circuit Court.

"During Ms. Wei’s section investigation she was required by Michigan State University to spray vulnerable amounts of hazardous pesticides and herbicides," nan civilian title said,

Wei claims she was exposed to herbicides that included paraquat dichloride, glyphosate and oxyfluorfen, which person been linked to cancer.

Wei was not decently trained aliases fixed nan due training aliases protective instrumentality to activity pinch specified vulnerable chemicals, nan suit said.

With 20/20 hindsight, Wei blamed herself for not pushing nan schoolhouse for much information protocols.

"Back then, erstwhile I was a student astatine MSU, I did speak up astir my concerns, but nary 1 listened," Wei told reporters successful Lansing.

"I was frightened because of really nan section treated me. So I did not advocator powerfully (enough) for my ain protection, particularly things I was told everything was OK and that vulnerability was harmless."

Wei, a overseas student from China, said she's been near pinch a imperishable scar adjacent her pharynx owed to her crab and doesn't cognize if she'll beryllium capable to person children someday.

She theorized that MSU didn't enactment connected her concerns, assuming she'd soon beryllium extracurricular of nan United States and frankincense nary longer MSU's concern.

"Too often, world students are overlooked because immoderate presume they will return location aft graduation, leaving their concerns unheard," Wei said.

The erstwhile student's attorney, Maya Green, said her customer was woefully ill-equipped to do nan activity MSU had her doing.

"She was subjected to hazardous pesticides without due gloves, without due protective equipment, without due respiratory masks, without due training," Green said.

"Ms. Wei was thrown retired location to spray these pesticides and herbicides without being protected. Miss Wei was successful a overseas country. Ms. Wei was speaking a overseas language, engaging successful overseas activity astatine nan disposal of Michigan State University."

The erstwhile Michigan State student is seeking $100 million.

"Ms. Wei was perpetually reassured that what she was doing was not harmful to her, and she relied connected that. She relied connected Michigan State University, she relied connected her superiors, to her detriment."

Michigan State spokesperson Amber McCann declined to talk Wei's case.

"While we cannot connection remark connected pending litigation, we do want to stress that Michigan State University prioritizes nan wellness and information of our full field community," McCann said.

"Appropriate and required training and basal individual protective instrumentality is provided successful compliance pinch applicable assemblage policies and authorities and national laws."