Home FEATURE STORY Ruben Luna Bruce Brummel Libby Thompson Bill Sinn Dave Erickson Tom Schultz Anna Sutton Anonymous Dana Weese Bill Fleming Update:Nicor denies contamination issue again Denise CrosbyDenise Crosby weighs in. Find out more. The Documents View Gallery Download .pdfs The Culprit? Workers at the Nicor plant in Aurora believe methylene chloride was leaking into drinking water at the plant How can your water go bad ? Without a fairly simple device, it’s easy for polluted water to back up into your shower. Download the page Read More Peril in the pipes Backflow problems have had serious consequences in the United States. Find out more. Additional Links Nicor Co. Information via Google Nicor Corporate Homepage OSHA Homepage Credits Story by:
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Libby Thompson, 48 Employee: 1990-2004 When Libby Thompson left Nicor in 2004, she told the company in no uncertain terms that they should keep paying her medical bills. She wasn't positive that working at Nicor had made her ill. But Thompson sure wasn't sick when she started.

"And when I made that statement, I didn't even know all the other stuff that was going on," she said.

Thompson is one of dozens of former Nicor employees who worked in Aurora and has been overwhelmed with health setbacks. The sick employees believe improper plumbing allowed toxic chemicals to seep into the drinking water, and they've paid the price.

"I don't remember the last time I felt about a 10, but day-to-day I'm about a 6," she said.

Thompson drank lots of water during her 14 years on the street crew. Besides morning cups of coffee, she'd bring a full jug with her on the truck, sipping as she repaired gas lines on hot days.

Since 1990, she has been diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a disease marked by lesions, especially in the liver, lungs, skin and lymph nodes. She found small lumps under the skin on her neck, stomach and pelvis. Doctors can't get rid of them.

Like other former Nicor employees she has constant diarrhea and breathing problems.

"It's hard to walk up stairs because it really hurts and I'm out of breath," she said. "I take the elevator as much as I can."

Thompson, who now works at Joliet Junior College, hopes the company will start protecting her future health.

"I want them to cover my medical expenses," she said. "And I want them to be exposed."