This story gets stranger and stranger! Look at the slide show on the right hand side of the page to see the before and after pictures! Unbelievable!

http://www.cnn.com/

When I first saw this on the dailykos.com I thought it was a joke or a hoax. I did an Internet search and found it wasn't.

It's incredibly frightening for me to believe something like this could be done and horribly sad to see what lengths (possibly) people will go to hold power. If it turns out that this has been the introduction of some poison to this poor man's body which caused this then the world has truly never evolved beyond the solutions practiced by the Borgias and Hitler.

I sincerely hope he improves and I fervently hope it will be found to be something internally wrong rather than externally introduced.

It doesn't sound that way from the story, sounds like they are certain it was ingested, probably in some sort of cream sauce or soup over an extended period of time. This sounds like a bad spy novel, except it's true.

I thought this was a joke too. Is the truth really stranger than fiction?

Dioxin -- one of the agents found in Agent Orange -- is formed as a by-product from industrial processes such as waste incineration, chemical and pesticide manufacturing and pulp and paper bleaching, AP reported.

Exposure to the toxin can lead to chloracne -- a type of adult acne that Zimpfer has said can take a long time to clear, AP said.



Sounds like Bush&CO CIA

That's really scary. Was this the opposite guy BushCo wanted?

In Russia, the candidate was poisoned.

In America, the electoral process was poisoned.

I can't decide which one is worse! :ph34r:

The poor man is suffering from MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, a disease which is becoming more common. Simply put, once an individual is poisoned by a chemical overexposure, they become overly sensitive to many chemicals. There is no cure; avoidance of chemicals to which one is shown to be sensitive to, is the only way to manage the disease.

The photos are classic for someone with this condition. Not only the condition of his skin, but also the enlargement of the nose, the inflamation around his eyes, the puffiness of the face, the change in the texture and the color of the hair. In his case, the sudden change in his appearance would indicate a dramatic incidence of "poisoning" or extreme overexposure. MCS can be quite debilitating in many ways.

How do I know this? I suffer from the condition, as does my sister. Any questions- fire away !

Some newscaster today, on CNN I belief, reported that his wife said there was a bitter metallic taste on his lips when she kissed him when he came home from some event that involved dinner.

Gotta watch out for those Dioxin Daquiris.

Anyway - good they have identified what it was, there was so much speculation before, intimations that perchance a new biological weaponized poison had been to blame.

lenal
:o

This is becoming more common in the US as homes, in an effort to save on heating and air conditioning costs, become more and more air tight. The presence of chemicals, such as from cleaning products and even carpeting, continues to build up to the point where some people develope a sensitivity to it to the point where they cannot tolerate living in their own home anymore unless major changes are made.

If this is the imediate effect of dioxin poisoning just think of what the long-term implications probably are. How much damage was done that can't be seen. I'd say that he faces much worse down the road.

If I remember correctly a documentary I saw about the production of vinyl siding creates dioxin as a by-product of the process and many of the people in the plant that produced the vinyl and people that lived near the plant developed cancer (a particular kind in that case) and subsequently died. They spoke of the fact that you couldn't destroy the vinyl once it was created or else it would release the chemical into the environment. In effect there was no way to get rid of it.

Bad stuff.

Here's a good article about indoor air pollution.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/rediap.htm

This is very true, Desron. After an individual is over exposed to a chemical or many chemicals, they may find that they cannot function well in an environment which contains such common chemicals as latex, glue, parabens, preservatives (in food as well) and the like.

The symptoms of MCS vary greatly and can only be diagnosed by a very competent allegist-
usually one who is board certified in immunology as well.

One of the most common chem problems involves petro-chemicals: found in nearly all modern
furnishings, carpet, make-up, chapstick......... the list is nearly endless.

And, as you mention, the home can become "poisonous." But, changes are most difficult to make, since new flooring (for example) of any type (including wood or tile) will contain chemicals which are then introduced into the environment. For many of us, "old" is good, "new" is bad, because we have adapted to the old.

It is a very complex problem and one which has been documented, but not well publicized, since the 1940's. As our society continues to introduce more and more chemical agents into the air and into our living and working environments, I fear that MCS will become epidemic. And, since it is such an elusive diagnosis, many people who think that they 'just' have allergies, actually are suffering from MCS.

The best way to avoid developing the condition is to not use perfumes, scented (or unscented)
cleaning products, make-up, or to use any chemical based product excessively (like paint or
any aerosol products). It is the old story of "everything in moderation; nothing in excess."

Here are some helpful links on how to avoid poisoning yourself:

http://www.ourlittleplace.com/mcs.html

http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

http://www.hopeforhealth.com/labels.html

Some of the things a homeowner can do are relatively simple and not expensive. I work on heating and air conditioning systems and I come across situations almost weekly where the homeowner didn't know or didn't care that his or her heating system needs routine maintanence. Today I got called out to a house where that had no heat. I found the hi limit tripped, reset it and noted that the furnace sounded like it was starving for air when the main blower came on. I pulled the air filter and it was as plugged. Explained to the home owner that was probably why the hi limit tripped as the furnace overheated because the air filter was plugged. Another thing I find alot are humidifiers that look like a high school science project gone bad. Some of those humidifiers I disable compeltely if I feel that the homeowner won't do the maintenance needed.

One thing about air filters. The cheap ones that one can purchase from any hardware store do not clean the air. Their main purpose is to reduce the dust buildup on the blower assembly of the furnace itself. If one wants to try and clean the air, buy a more expensive air filter (they run about $16.00) and set the fan control on the the thermostat to "On" so that the blower runs 24/7. Also remember to check the air filter once a week and replace as needed. You may also want to check the ductwork in the house. If it's dirty, hire a reputable and licensed firm to clean the ductwork. What I've said in this paragraph applies to homes with hot air heating systems and not those with hot water heating systems.

Excellent advice, Desron ! There is a huge difference in air filters and, unfortunately, the cheap ones do little good. I have found that washable ones work very well-
the trick, of course, being to remember to clean them frequently.

Additionally, those who have allergies (or MCS) will find that room air filtration systems are a real
bonus. They are expensive but make a substantial difference in air quality. Some are small enough to use in an office workplace, as well. But, be sure they are certified by CADR, a national rating group........ one of the units often advertised on TV by a national store chain, is
worthless.

I live in a very humid climate, so we do not use humidifiers here. But, those with allergies and
or chemical sensitivities, should keep the humidity in their homes below 50%.

According to some blood test and skin tests carried out over night,it appears as if it was a kiss from his wife that did it,BUT it also could appear as if some one has smeared some sort of cream over his face.
I wounder if he has an allergy to peanuts?????

How sad. She can't even give him a kiss.

Two things with this senario....the kiss of death.......what is in the lippy that she is using????

LOL Aw.

What the hell are you smoking, Peter? His wife stated that when he came back from the meeting in September, she noticed a "medicine" taste when she kissed him. It may have come from soup that he ate...possibly with cream in it.

The good news that I have heard is that he will make a full recovery and his face will look normal again, although it may take awhile.

That is good news, thanks.
Btw, am I the only one that saw this story on the Daily Show (seems a couple of weeks ago) ?

Here are two interesting points about environmental toxins and U.S. interest (which may or may not be fueling the third-party poison theory).

http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/

Saturday, December 11, 2004
Was Yushchenko poisoned?
(For the lastest on vote fraud, see below.) Drudge and other rightists are claiming that "our" man in the Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, was exposed to dioxin poisoning. Cute, isn't it? Conspiracy theories become respectable when a conservative makes them; nobody claims that Drudge has traded his fedora for a tin foil chapeau.

I would note that cries of "dioxin poisoning" have long echoed throughout the eldritch realms inhabited by the conspiracy-spotters; if memory serves, the motif was heard during the McMartin pre-school controversy.

I would also note that Yushchenko lives rather close to Chernobyl. Perhaps we should not dismiss too rapidly the idea of environmental toxins?

I will further note that a recent AP story confirms that both a Yushchenko "think tank" and the Ukrainian exit polling organizations received funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, a frequent front for the American intelligence community.

I will further note that the guy who co-founded Amway died. Although this event has nothing to do with Yushchencko, the news did make me smile.



http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/rm/32416.htm


Ukraine’s Future and U.S. Interests

Steven Pifer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs
Testimony Before the House International Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Europe
Washington, DC
May 12, 2004
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, I am pleased to be here today to discuss with you U.S. policy towards Ukraine.

As requested, I shall provide an assessment of the current state of U.S.-Ukrainian relations; the U.S. view of current political and economic developments in Ukraine, including the critical presidential campaign and October election; U.S. assistance to Ukraine; and the status of Ukraine’s relationship with NATO and the European Union. I shall also update you on recent interactions we have had with senior Ukrainian officials, including the visit to Kiev by Deputy Secretary Armitage at the end of March. I had the opportunity myself to spend three days in Kiev at the end of April to assess Ukraine’s progress on democracy and the presidential election. I hope this information will provide useful background for your upcoming visit to Ukraine, which the State Department very much welcomes.

U.S. Vision for Ukraine

The U.S. vision for Ukraine has remained constant for more than ten years. The U.S. Government wants to see Ukraine develop as a stable, independent, democratic, economically prosperous country, a country that increasingly draws closer to Europe and to European and Euro-Atlantic institutions, that promotes human rights and abides by the rule of law, that maintains positive, mutually-beneficial relations with its neighbors, and that actively contributes to strengthening peace and security in the international community.

We believe that the majority of the Ukrainian people shares this vision. We support this vision because we believe such a Ukraine will be good for its people, will contribute to a more stable and secure Europe, will be a partner with the United States in meeting today’s new challenges, such as countering proliferation and defeating terrorism, and will be a country with which we can have robust and mutually beneficial economic and trade relations. Many Americans understand that helping Ukraine to realize this vision is in our own national interest.

It is important to recall that the road to Ukrainian independence during the past century has not been an easy one. In 1917, the Central Rada proclaimed Ukrainian autonomy and in 1918, following the Bolshevik seizure of power in St. Petersburg, the Ukrainian National Republic declared independence. After three years of conflict and civil war, however, the western part of Ukraine was incorporated into Poland, and the central and eastern regions were incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1922.

The Ukrainian national idea persevered throughout the Soviet period, but Ukraine suffered immeasurably. In 1932-33, the Soviet authorities waged a campaign of terror that ravaged the Ukrainian elites and created an artificial famine (called the Holodomor in Ukrainian) that took the lives of many millions of innocent Ukrainians. The Second World War was another heavy blow; estimates are that some 10 million Ukrainians lost their lives. In 1986, Ukrainians again suffered a tragedy of historic proportions with the explosion of Reactor Number Four at the Chernobyl nuclear power station. Ukraine and its neighbors recently marked the 18th anniversary of the Chernobyl explosion, and the country continues to feel the effects of that disaster.

Well, at least for once it would appear we are supporting the right guy. I have a friend who is Ukrainian born and the people there definitely want ties to Europe......... prior to
WWII and the Soviets, they considered themselves part of Eastern Europe.

As for the poisoning- who knows for sure how it happened? But the fact that the man encountered a massive exposure to some poison is obvious from the photos. Chernobyl is not likely- that would be slower poisoning with different symptoms.

As for his recovery....... well, I would say reports are optimistic at best. He may very well recover from the initial intensity of the poison but there will be lingering effects.

Yes, one of the stories I read said that the doctors just don't know if he will be at risk for cancer in the future. Evidently, what they do know is that cancer chances increase in those with long term exposure. They aren't as familiar with high dose ingestion.