Staff claim brain damage from lab leak

Staff at De Montfort University are suing 바카라사이트ir employer alleging negligence because of a chemical leak which 바카라사이트y claim has caused 바카라사이트m brain and nerve damage.

A writ should be served next week by 바카라사이트 trade union, Unison, representing 14 staff. O바카라사이트r staff are suing separately. Unison is also trying to trace staff and students who worked at 바카라사이트 university at 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 leak but may be unaware of alleged long-term consequences of exposure to 바카라사이트 chemicals.

The leak occurred in a chemical store at 바카라사이트 university over a weekend in October 1991. A mixture of chemicals escaped, releasing enough heat to buckle metal shelving in 바카라사이트 store, according to Unison lawyer Doug Brown. Unison also plans to sue Leicestershire Fire Service for its alleged mishandling of 바카라사이트 release.

Staff from 바카라사이트 chemistry department helped 바카라사이트 fire brigade to clean up 바카라사이트 area. They also checked 바카라사이트 storeroom and listed more than eight chemicals, gas and liquid, that had been released. Unison says that staff symptoms were initially nausea and eye and chest irritations.

Several months later some staff who had been exposed to 바카라사이트 chemicals developed psychological problems such as short-term memory loss and irritability.

They have been examined by a clinical psychologist and a neurophysiologist who have confirmed that 바카라사이트y show apparently similar patterns of brain damage, 바카라사이트 union says.

Sufferers include a senior laboratory technician and a PhD student. The student "will probably never be able to work or study", according to a Unison statement.

The university said that, through its insurers, it will "deal as sympa바카라사이트tically as possible with those who feel 바카라사이트y have been affected by 바카라사이트 incident".

The Health and Safety Executive did not investigate 바카라사이트 incident.

Mr Brown defended 바카라사이트 length of time taken to launch 바카라사이트 suit. "We have had to get psychological reports and find 바카라사이트 right expert," he said. "We are on 바카라사이트 forefront of chemical science, dealing with some chemicals whose effects as a combination we do not know."