“Even after Wei specifically requested the safety equipment and training, MSU officials denied her request. In fact, after Wei sought treatment for shortness of breath from the university’s Olin Health Center, officials wrote her symptoms off as anxiety instead of the dangerous exposure to toxic chemicals.”
A former research assistant at Michigan State University has filed a lawsuit against the school, claiming that regular pesticide exposures caused her to develop thyroid cancer.
According to CBS News, the lawsuit was filed earlier this week on behalf of LingLong Wei.
In a statement, Wei’s attorneys said that their client regularly worked with pesticides at Michigan State, where she studied horticulture between 2008 and 2011. More than 10 years later, in 2024, Wei was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
“As a student research assistant, Wei and others were required to spend thousands of hours spraying dangerous pesticides and herbicides including, glyphosate, and oxyfluorfen which have been specifically linked to thyroid cancer,” attorneys Maya Green and Tilmandra Wilkerson said in a statement.
Green and Wilkerson noted that their client was not ignorant to the dangers of working with pesticides and had repeatedly asked the school to provide safety equipment and training; these requests were reportedly denied.
“Even after Wei specifically requested the safety equipment and training, MSU officials denied her request,” the statement says. “In fact, after Wei sought treatment for shortness of breath from the university’s Olin Health Center, officials wrote her symptoms off as anxiety instead of the dangerous exposure to toxic chemicals.”
Diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma, Wei’s treatment ultimately involved the surgical removal of her thyroid.
“Because of Michigan State University’s failures Ms. Wei required serious surgical intervention removing her thyroid and leaving a permanent disfigurement, namely a visible surgical scar,” the lawsuit alleges.
“Let’s be clear,” Green said at a press conference. “MSU knew these were dangerous, toxic chemicals, and they had the resources to protect Ms. Wei and her fellow student research assistants. But they chose not to.”
“Once again, MSU has proven that they care more about cashing their students’ tuition checks than keeping them safe,” she said.
A spokesperson for Michigan State University has since said that, while the school cannot comment on pending litigation, it remains complaint with all relevant state and federal laws.
“While we cannot offer comment on pending litigation, we do want to emphasize that Michigan State University prioritizes the health and safety of our entire campus community,” spokesperson Amber McCann said. “Appropriate and required training and necessary personal protective equipment is provided in compliance with applicable university policies and state and federal laws.”
Wei’s lawsuit charges the university with negligence and requests $100 million in damages.
Sources
Former Michigan State horticulture student files $100 million lawsuit over pesticide exposure
Former student announces $100M lawsuit against Michigan State University
Former student sues Michigan State University over alleged exposure to chemicals
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