Michigan college exposed student to harmful pesticides, causing cancer, suit says

Jennifer Rodriguez, The Kansas City Star on Aug 18, 2025

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A former Michigan State University student is suing after she says the college is at fault for her cancer diagnosis.

McClatchy News reached out to Michigan State University for comment Aug. 18 but did not immediately hear back.

“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,” a spokesperson told NBC News.

LingLong Wei was a student at the university between 2008 and 2011, according to the lawsuit.

Wei, who is from China, was an international student at the school and was enrolled in the horticulture program studying for her master’s degree, the lawsuit said.

Wei was required to work as a research assistant in the program, and one of her tasks was to spray “dangerous amounts of hazardous pesticides and herbicides, including but not limited to; paraquat, glyphosate, and oxyfluorfen,” the lawsuit said.

The university didn’t provide Wei with any training or protective equipment, despite her requesting it, the complaint said.

“Appropriate and required training and necessary personal protective equipment is provided in compliance with applicable university policies and state and federal laws,” the school’s spokesperson told NBC News.

Wei was instructed to spray “paraquat dichloride, glyphosate, and oxyfluorfen for up to eight (8) hours in a single day from 2008 to 2011” and was exposed to the chemicals for over 7,000 hours, the lawsuit said.

At times, the wind would blow the chemicals directly onto Wei’s face, according to the complaint.

Wei started experiencing difficulty breathing, especially after spraying the chemicals. When she sought help from a health center, she was told it was from anxiety, the lawsuit said.

Wei often asked if spraying the pesticides was safe and was assured it was, according to the complaint.

In July 2024, “Wei was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma, following a thyroid biopsy which positively identified cancerous cells on June 26, 2024,” the complaint said.

The lawsuit said Wei having thyroid cancer is a result of “Michigan State University’s failures.”

Wei had to undergo surgery to remove her thyroid and was left with a surgical scar, the complaint said.

The lawsuit said this could have been prevented and the university’s “conduct was outrageous and shocks the conscience” and “continued to violate proper protocol and/or safety precautions required for pesticide handling and application.”

Wei is suing for over $100 million in damages.

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