KANSAS CITY, Mo. – NBC Action News continues its Bannister Investigation with two men diagnosed with a rare condition associated with a toxin used at the Kansas City Plant.
Both men say they never worked inside the plant’s labs, and both claim they have been diagnosed with
beryllium sensitivity.
Chris Heintzman was a delivery man for a metro lumber yard who says his exposure to the plant was limited to the delivery dock area of the plant.
The other beryllium sensitivity victim, Marlin Smith, was a roofer who says he worked on the plant’s roof for several months in 2005.
The men showed NBC Action News documents from doctors and government programs supporting claims of their condition.
Smith claims he was never inside the plant’s offices for more than an hour.
Beryllium sensitivity is caused by exposure to beryllium, a toxic metal that is combined with other metals to strengthen materials used in aerospace manufacturing according to officials with the National Nuclear Security Administration at the Kansas City Plant.
Officials say the Kansas City Plant at the Bannister Federal Complex, 1500 E. Bannister Road, uses small amounts of beryllium to manufacture non-nuclear parts for nuclear weapons.
During our initial investigation, plant safety officer Patrick Hopes acknowledged areas of beryllium contamination at the plant, but said the areas are safely contained and do not threaten anyone outside those areas.
Hoopes said workers inside those areas are trained to use safety precautions to avoid exposure.
Our initial investigation uncovered 79 Bannister workers with health concerns linked to beryllium according to a statement from the plant.
According to a
U.S. Department of Energy statement on beryllium, exposure can escalate into Chronic Beryllium Disease.
The DOE statement says one study suggests a significant increase in lung cancer among beryllium workers.
The statement identifies symptoms as coughing, chest pain, fatigue, weight loss and loss of appetite.
Sherry Kinsey-Cannon with the NNSA at the Kansas City Plant says 12 current employees at the Kansas City Plant have been diagnosed with Chronic Beryllium Disease.
The NNSA has not yet responded to NBC Action News inquiries about the newest worker claims that they were exposed outside of the plant’s labs.
The men contacted NBC Action News independently after our Bannister Investigation series last week which uncovered dozens of illnesses at a building that abuts the plant at the Bannister Federal Complex.
We are developing this story and awaiting a response from the government.
Stay with NBC Action News and NBCActionNews.com for updates to this developing story.
