Hufford's Nightmare

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Hufford's Nightmare

Chlordane Drove Them From House

October 9, 1995 - A Randolph Twp. family says its American dream turned into a chemical nightmare, leaving their home unlivable, their health damaged and their hopes for the future shaken. Michael and Teresa Hufford and their three children moved into the house at 11221 Putman Road just before Thanksgiving 1993, and soon began feeling sick. It was the beginning of what they believe to have been the ill effects of contamination from exposure to chlordane - a banned pesticide once legally used for termite control.

According to their attorney, the family's symptoms worsened until they "evacuated" the residence in August 1994, not to return. In August of this year, the Huffords filed a 5.15 million lawsuit in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in connection with the matter. Defendants include the couple from they bought the nine-acre property for $186,000, Martin and Bonnie Thompson of West Milton, as well as Charles E. Hart and his Dayton business, Root Termite Service. The Huffords contend that in selling the home, the Thompsons failed to disclose numerous defects, including the presence of insect damage and high levels of toxic insecticides. They also claim that Hart and his firm used chlordane "and other toxic chemicals" on the property at the request of the Thompsons, and fraudulently misrepresented to the Huffords the nature of the pesticides used. Attorneys for the Thompsons and Hart said they can not comment while the matter is in litigation.

Chlordane causes cancer in test animals and affects the central nervous system, according to Al Heier, spokesman on pesticide issues for the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. He said the use of chlordane for agricultural purposes was banned in the United States in the mid-1970s, after which its use was limited to termite control. The chemical was banned for all uses in 1988. "The agency banned the product because they were causing ill health to consumers". Heier said. "Many of the problems were associated with misapplications". "All applicators are aware that it's no longer allowed to be used", he said. The Hufford family includes Michael, 42, senior vice president in charge of lending for Milton Federal Saving Bank in West Milton; Teresa, 44, a housewife and school teacher, and three children: Faith Hufford, 7, Barrett Schoeck, 13, and Sarah Schoeck, 16. The Huffords declined comment on their lawsuit, but attorney John Peto of Cleveland said, " The family had suffered various health effects because of this, and many of those health effects continue and are likely to continue". He declined to elaborate. Peto said the property's well water is contaminated with chlordane, and said samples taken from air, carpet and other areas in and around the house show chlordane contamination "far exceeding any approved levels". The Huffords and now living at a Randolph Twp. rental home, which they understand has never been treated for termites.