I-atikili le ivezwe ngokubambisana neSikhungo sokuThembeka komPhakathi, isevisi yeendaba engenzi inzuzo enikelwe ekurhubhululeni ukungalingani.
Ukuhlamba. ilarha. isithuthuthu. UKevin Hartley, Drew Wynn noJoshua Atkins bebasebenza kungakapheli iinyanga ezili-10 lokha nabahlongakalako, kodwana bebasebenza. Izinto ziyahluka, kodwana isizathu esenza bona sibe sifitjhani ipilo yazo siyafana: amakhemikhali asezikhupheni zepende neminye imikhiqizo ethengiswa ezitolo. enarheni yoke.
Ngobuhlungu nokusaba, imindeni yabo yafunga ukwenza koke okusemandlenabo ukukhandela i-methylene chloride bona ingabulali omunye umuntu.
Kodwana e-United States, bambalwa amafemu wamakhemikhali ahlangabezane nesiphetho esifanako ngebanga lokuvikelwa kwabasebenzi nabathengi. Ngalokho i-methylene chloride yaba yi-serial killer, nanyana bekuneenyeleliso ngeengozi zomhwamuko wayo ngitjho nangaphambi kokuthi u-Hartley, u-Wayne no-Atkins babelethwe. Inqwaba, nangabe ingasi ngaphezulu, sele ibulewe ematjhumini weminyaka esanda kwedlula ngaphandle kokungenelela kwananyana ngiliphi i-ejensi.
Ngemva kophenyo olwenziwa yiSikhungo sokuThembeka komPhakathi kanye nokubizwa kwabasekeli bezokuphepha, i-Ejensi yokuVikelwa kweBhoduluko ye-US ekugcineni yahlongoza ukuvinjelwa okubanzi kokusetjenziswa kwento leyo eentweni zokukhipha ipende.
KwakunguTjhirhweni 2017, amalanga wokugcina wokubusa kwaka-Obama. U-Hartley wahlongakala ngoMrhayili womnyaka loyo, u-Wynn ngoMgwengweni womnyaka loyo, begodu u-Atkins ngoMhlolanja womnyaka olandelako, ngesikhathi lapho umbuso ka-Trump bewutjhisakalela ukususwa kwemithetho begodu bewufuna ukuqeda kunokobana ufake imithetho—khulukhulu ubujamo be-EPA. Isiphakamiso se-methylene chloride asizange siye ndawo.
Kodwana, ngemva kweenyanga ezili-13 ngemva kokuhlongakala kwaka-Atkins, i-Ejensi yokuVikelwa kweBhoduluko ka-Trump, ngaphasi kwengcindezi, yaqunta ukulisa ukuthengiswa kweensetjenziswa zokukhipha upende ezine-methylene chloride. NgoMrhayili, i-Ejensi yokuVikelwa kweBhoduluko ka-Biden yahlongoza umthetho ozokuvimbela ikhemikhali kiyo yoke imikhiqizo yabathengi neendaweni ezinengi zokusebenza.
"Asikavami ukwenza lokhu e-United States," kwatjho u-Dr. Robert Harrison, uphrofesa wezokwelapha wezemisebenzi nezebhoduluko e-University of California, e-San Francisco. "Imindeni le ngamaqhawe wami."
Nasi indlela abahlula ngayo iintjhijilo zokufikelela imiphumela le nokuthi yini abangayincoma nangabe uthoma indlela ebudisi efanako, kungakhathaliseki bona ubujamo bufaka hlangana imikhiqizo eyingozi, indawo yokusebenza engaphephileko, ukusilaphazeka namkha okunye ukulimala.
"Google koke," kutjho u-Brian Wynn, umfowabo u-Drew oneminyaka ema-31 owathenga i-methylene chloride ukulungisa isitolo sakhe sekhofi esibandako se-South Carolina nefriji. "Nokufinyelela ebantwini."
Yindlela athola ngayo i-Public Integrity Inquiry, eyagadangiswa eminyakeni emibili ngaphambi kokuhlongakala komfowabo, athintana neengcwethi begodu afunda koke ukusuka lapho angathenga khona umkhiqizo ukuya ekutheni kubayini ukufa bekunzima ukulandelela. (Umusi we-methylene chloride uyabulala lokha nawubuthelela eendaweni ezivalelekileko, begodu ungabanga ukuhlaselwa yihliziyo okubonakala njengokufa kwemvelo nangabe kungekho owenza ukuhlolwa kwe-toxicology.)
Isiyeleliso esivela ku-Wendy Hartley, unina ka-Kevin: “Ifundo” ligama eliqakathekileko ekufuneni. Kungenzeka kube neenhlobo ezinengi zokurhubhulula ezikulindeleko lapho. "Lokhu kuzokusiza ukuhlukanisa imibono emaqinisweni," watlola nge-imeyili.
U-Lauren Atkins, unina ka-Joshua oneminyaka ema-31, owahlongakala ngesikhathi atjhugulula imfoloko yebhayisikili ye-BMX, wakhuluma no-Harrison we-UCSF kanengi. Ngenyanga kaMhlolanja wee-2018, wathola indodanakhe ihlongakele phasi inembiza yelitha yepende elele eduze.
Ilwazi laka-Harrison nge-methylene chloride lamsiza bona atjhugulule imibiko yendodanakhe ye-toxicology nemibiko yokuhlolwa kwesidumbu yaba yimbangela ecacileko yokuhlongakala. Lokhu kukhanyisa kwenza isisekelo esiqinileko sesenzo.
Kanengi, ukuvezwa emakhemikhalini kungabangela imiphumela yepilo yesikhathi eside ebantwini engabonakali iminyaka eminengi. Ukusilaphazeka kungaba yindaba efanako. Kodwana nangabe ufuna urhulumende athathe amagadango wokulungisa ukulimala okunjalo, irhubhululo lezefundo lisesiqalo esihle.
Umthombo omkhulu wepumelelo yabo bekukuthintana komndeni namaqembu asevele asebenza ngeendaba zokuphepha kwamakhemikhali begodu nomunye nomunye.
Ukwenza isibonelo, u-Lauren Atkins wathola isibawo se-Change.org malungana nemikhiqizo ye-methylene chloride evela esiqhemeni sokukhuthaza i-Safe Chemicals for Healthy Families (nje nge-Toxic Free Future) begodu watlikitla isibawo sokukhumbula indodanakhe esanda kulahleka. U-Brian Wayne welula isandla sakhe msinyana.
Amabutho anamandla ahlanganyele ukubona ngokuzeleko iinzuzo zawo. Ngaphandle kwesenzo esivela ku-EPA, imindeni le angeze kwatlhogeka bona ithome ekuthomeni ngokugandelela abathengisi bona basuse imikhiqizo ematjhelfini wabo: Amakhemikhali aphephileko Imindeni enepilo ehle ihlome umkhankaso wayo othi “Tjheja Iintolo” ngokuphendula umhlobo lo webizo.
Akutlhogeki bona bathole imithetho ye-ejensi nofana ukusebenza kwangaphakathi kokuloba e-Capitol Hill ngokwabo. Amakhemikhali aphephileko, imindeni enepilo, kanye nesikhwama sokuvikela ibhoduluko banobungcweti kilokhu.
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"Nawukghona ukuhlanganisa isiqhema esinje ... unamandla anamandla," kutjho u-Brian Wynn, akhomba umKhandlu wezokuVikela iMithombo yemvelo njengelinye isiqhema esiphishekela indaba le.
Akusibo boke abanentshisekelo yokulwa abazokukghona ukudlala indima yomphakathi kiyo. Ukwenza isibonelo, abantu abavela eenarheni zangaphandle abangenalo ilungelo lomthetho elihlala njalo baqalene nobungozi obukhulu bokusebenza, begodu ukutlhogeka kwesikhundla kungenza kube budisi namkha kungakghonakali kibo ukukhuluma.
Nangabe imindeni le itjheje yoke i-EPA, i-ejensi ingathathi igadango, khulukhulu nakuqalwa ukubuyela emuva kombuso ka-Trump emithethweni.
Bagandelela abathengisi ngokuthi "balawule iintolo zabo" bona bangathengiseli iinsetjenziswa zokukhipha ipende ezine-methylene chloride ukusindisa amaphilo. Amaphethishini nemibhikisho yasebenza. Iinkampani ezifaka hlangana i-Home Depot ne-Walmart zivumile ukujama.
Babiza amalunga we-Congress bona athathe amagadango nge-Safer Chemicals, Healthier Families kanye ne-Environment Fund. Baya e-Washington baphethe iinthombe zomndeni. Bakhulume neentatheli begodu bathola imibiko yeendaba eyakhuphula ukungezwani.
Amasenetha we-South Carolina nelunga le-congress batlola incwadi eya kuMlawuli we-Environmental Protection Agency u-Scott Pruitt. Elinye ilunga lephalamende laveza ukuphikiswa ku-Pruitt ngesikhathi sokulalelwa kwecala ngoMrhayili 2018. U-Brian Wynn ukholelwa bona koke lokhu kwasiza umndeni ukuhlela umhlangano no-Pruitt ngoMeyi 2018.
"Unogada wethuka ngombana akekho owafika kuye," kutsho u-Brian Wayne. "Kufana nokuhlangana nezwe elikhulu nelinamandla le-Oz."
Endleleni, umndeni wafaka icala. Basebenzisa iinkundla zokuthintana ukuyelelisa abantu bona bangazifaki engozini. U-Lauren Atkins waya ezitolo ezithengisa iinsetjenziswa ukuyozibonela bona kwamambala bebazisusa na imikhiqizo ye-methylene chloride ematjhelfini wabo njengombana bebathi. (Kwesinye isikhathi iye, kesinye isikhathi awa.)
Nangabe koke lokhu kubonakala kukudina, awuphosisi. Kodwana imindeni le ikholelwa bona bekusobala bona bekuzokwenzekani ngathana azange bangenelele.
"Akukho okuzokwenziwa," kutsho u-Lauren Atkins, "njengokungakaze kwenziwe ngaphambilini."
Ukunqoba okuncani kuyaphindaphinda. Into eyodwa yaholela kwenye ngoba umndeni awuzange ulahle ithemba. Umbono wesikhathi eside uvamise ukutlhogeka: Ukwenza imithetho ye-Federal kuyaphuza.
Kungathatha iminyaka eminengi nofana ngaphezulu bona i-ejensi iqede irhubhululo elitlhogekako ukuphakamisa umthetho. Isiphakamiso kufanele sinqobe iinqabo ngaphambi kobana siphethwe. Kodwana, nanyana ngimiphi imikhawulo nofana iimfuneko ezitjha zingafakwa ngokukhamba kwesikhathi.
Okuvumele imindeni bona ithole ukuvinjelwa okuncani okuvela ku-EPA msinyana kukuthi i-ejensi yaveza isiphakamiso ngaphambi kokuyimisa. Kodwana kwaba ngemva kweminyaka emibili nehhafu ngemva kokuhlongakala kwaka-Kevin Hartley ngaphambi kobana imikhawulo ye-Ejensi yokuVikelwa kweBhoduluko ithome ukusebenza. Begodu azihlanganisi ukusetjenziswa emsebenzini, njengomsebenzi wokupenda ibhavu owenziwa ngu-Kevin oneminyaka ema-21 emsebenzini.
Kodwana, ngaphakathi kwe-ejensi kungaba neenqunto ezihlukileko ezenziwa baphathi abahlukileko. Isiphakamiso sakamuva se-EPA, esilindeleke bona samukelwe ngoRhoboyi wee-2024, sizokukhandela ukusetjenziswa kwe-methylene chloride emsebenzini ngeenhloso ezinengi, okufaka hlangana ukupholisa ibhathi.
"Kufanele ube nesineke. Kufanele ubekezele," kutsho u-Lauren Atkins. “Nxa kukhulunywa ngempilo yomuntu, ikakhulu nxa kukhulunywa ngabantwabakho, uyayithola.Straightaway”.
Ukwenza amatjhuguluko kubudisi. Kungaba budisi ukuletha amatjhuguluko ngombana wena nofana umuntu omthandako ulimele, nanyana kungaba yinduduzo engekho enye into engakwenza.
"Bopha amabhande, ngombana lokhu kuzokuba yinhlekelele yemizwa," kuxwayisa u-Lauren Atkins. “Abantu bayangibuza ngaso soke isikhathi, nanyana kuzwakala begodu kubudisi, kubayini ngiragela phambili nokwenza lokhu? Ipendulo yami beyisolo injalo begodu izakuhlala ithi: “Ngalokho akutlhogeki bona uhlale phasi.” indawo yami. Njeke akutlhogeki bona ube seduze kwami ​​godu.
“Usebenza njani lokha nasele ulahlekelwe yingcenye yakho?Kwesinye isikhathi ngicabanga bona ihliziyo yakhe yajama ukubetha begodu nehliziyo yami yajama ukubetha ngelanga elifanako,” watjho. "Kodwana ngombana angifuni abanye abantu badlule kilokhu begodu angifuni abanye abantu balahlekelwe ngilokho u-Joshua alahlekelwe ngikho, lokho mnqopho wami. Ngikulungele ukwenza nanyana yini."
U-Brian Wynne unemibono efanako begodu uncoma ezinye izinto eziqeda ukugandeleleka ukukusiza ukuqeda umjarho. Ijimu ngeyakhe. "Kufanele ufumane indlela yokukhipha imizwa yakho," watjho.
U-Wendy Hartley uthole bona ukuzikhandla kuyaphola ngokwakho – ngokusekelwa kweminye imindeni nemiphumela abayizuza ndawonye.
Njengomuntu onikela ngezitho zomzimba, indodanakhe yenza umthelela oqondileko emaphilweni wabanye. Kuyathokozisa ukubona ilifa lakhe lidlulela phambili emashalofini wesitolo kanye namaholo karhulumende.
"UKevin wasindisa amanye amaphilo," watlola, "begodu uzakuragela phambili nokusindisa amaphilo iminyaka ezako."
Nawugandelela amatjhuguluko, kulula ukucabanga bona abasekeli abasebenzisa imali ukugcina ubujamo obukhona bazokuhlala banqoba. Kodwana isipiliyoni sakho sepilo sithwala ubudisi obungathengwa.
"Nangabe uyakwazi ukukhuluma indatjana yakho, begodu yingcenye yepilo yakho, khona-ke ungakghona ukuyenza — begodu lokha nawukwazi ukukhuluma indatjana leyo, ngikufisela itjhudu, abasekeli," kutjho u-Brian Wayne. "Siza ngethando nethando elingalinganiswa."
Isiyeleliso esivela ku-Wendy Hartley: “Ungesabi ukuveza amazizo wakho.” Khuluma ngomthelela imizwa le enawo kuwe nomndenakho. "Batjengise umthelela wabo ngeenthombe."
"Eminyakeni esithandathu eyadlulako, ngathana umuntu bekathi, 'Nangabe bewurhuwelela khulu, urhulumende bekazokuzwa,' bengizokuhleka," kutjho u-Lauren Atkins. "Uyaqagela? Iphimbo linye lingenza umahluko. Ngicabanga bona lokho kuyingcenye yelifa lendodana yami."
U-Jamie Smith Hopkins mtloli we-Center for Public Integrity, igumbi leendaba elingasebenziko elihlolisisa ukungalingani.