John "Chuck" Mikell, says he had no idea what substance he was handling at a former Energizer battery plant in Alachua County.

But now the husband and father of four has a very good idea what's caused his stage four kidney cancer-- cadmium and nickel used to make the rechargable batteries.

Mikell, 50, says he's been given a death sentence because of work he did at the plant.

The 50 year old is suing to recover what he can, while he can.

Mikell was a contractor, hired by Energizer in 1999 and 2000 to build wooden pallets and remove the old ones. Regularly he found dust on the pallets which he now knows was cadmium dust. Cadmium is a by-product of battery production. Workers are supposed to wear safety gear including a respirator. When ingested the toxic substance has been linked to lung and kidney cancer.

In his suit he charges that he was not told about the potentially hazardous material. He didn't know, he says, until another worker told him he, "shouldn't be handling that stuff," and that it was "pretty bad."

So far Mikell has outlived doctors predictions by two months. He is undergoing an experimental drug treatment at a Houston hospital.

"There's not a day that goes by I don't ask God just give me ten more years until I'm 60 let me get these young one's raised and on their way."

Energizer had no comment for First Coast News.