It wasn’t until December that all of the peanut graders got to see a lung doctor.

They were examined by Dr. James V. Palazzolo at Albany Pulmonary and Critical Care Associates. White and Martin have their medical papers from Palazzolo stating it was the doctor’s impression they had been subjected to “toxic exposure.” The others have not yet received their medical papers.

All of them have been placed on medication. Gibbs and White each take eight medications, Strickland and Caton are each on five medications, and Martin is on six medications. Most of them require inhalers to help them breathe.

The graders said at least two of their children became ill from peanut dust brought home on their clothing. One of the children was hospitalized.

After November 13, the dozen graders were all placed in the office doing clerical work. “We kept asking what was wrong,” Gibbs said. “They told us the first test (of the peanuts) showed a T-2 mycotoxin and the second test was negative.”

T-2, also known as “yellow rain,” is the only mycotoxin known to have been used as a biological weapon. It is a naturally occurring mold byproduct of Fusarium spp fungus which is toxic to humans and animals. The clinical condition it causes is alimentary toxic aleukia which has a host of symptoms involving the skin, airway and stomach.

Next: What the investigators found.

To contact reporter Jana Cone, call 382-4321, ext. 208