In an exclusive interview, environmental activist Erin Brockovich talked to HLN’s Dr. Drew about her findings into why at least 15 high school students in Le Roy, New York, are suffering from the same mysterious illness causing Tourette-like outbursts.
“I think the first thing that hit me in my gut was, ‘well, you haven't necessarily ruled anything and everything in or out,’” she said Friday night. “It just seemed to be a very quick diagnosis.”
Brockovich, who had a movie based on her life, explained how one of the affected family members received a note in their mailbox about a 1971 train derailment. “The contaminated rock, fill and soil was used to build the new school,” she said. “We are still trying to corroborate that [story]."
She immediately researched the derailment, and discovered it had caused one ton of cyanide and 45,000 gallons of Trichloroethylene (TCE) to spill.
“I have read and been involved in cases that we have that,” she said. “TCE can be associated with neurological disorders.”
Brockovich noted that the actual location of the derailment was four miles from the school. She will now send a team to New York for further investigation.
Click on the video above for more on Brockovich's findings.
Be sure to watch the show weeknights at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and follow the show on Twitter @DrDrewHLN.
Join the conversation...