PBB: An environmental contaminant in michigan

Abstract

The accidental introduction of the fire retardant polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) into the food chain of Michigan in 1973 provides an example of an insidious, slowly developing, and still continuing technological catastrophe. Hartsough's transactional model of natural disasters is utilized to provide a conceptual framework to describe the psychological effects of the PBB crisis. Following this model, the event (toxic chemicals within the food chain) led to the quarantine of 576 farms, destruction of millions of animals and dairy products, and losses in the range of $100–$200 million. Appraisal was slow and continued for years. Stresses were created both by the event and by public response to the event. Traditional community systems provided little assistance in coping, and political action was required before services were provided. In spite of a high prevalence of depressive symptoms and somatic complaints, research results regarding psychological and physical effects of PBB poisoning have been equivocal and, at times, contradictory. Hartsough's model points to possible intervention points that may have improved the response to the event and yielded fewer negative outcomes for the victims. Suggestions are offered to improve the model for application to future technological catastrophes.

Integrating Human and Natural Systems in Community Psychology: An Ecological Model of Stewardship Behavior

“…Previous CP research on environmental issues, especially on toxic waste and nuclear energy (e.g. Lounsbury et al 1979;Webb 1989;Rich et al 1995;Culley and Hughey 2008;Culley and Angelique 2011), and on the environmental movement (Dean and Bush 2007;Quimby and Angelique 2011) parallels research in environmental sociology.…”

“…This body of research has focused on three themes. The first theme is the dynamics of social power and the degree of citizen participation in community responses to local environmental hazards, such as toxic waste spills and nuclear power plants (Lounsbury et al 1979;Webb 1989;Rich et al 1995;Culley and Hughey 2008;Culley and Angelique 2011). These studies pointed to the need for genuine community involvement and citizen empowerment in environmental decision-making processes.…”

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Rural Primary Care: Improving Care for Mental Health Following Bioterrorism

“…Compounding the problem, most rural communities do not feel immediately threatened by a bioterrorist attack and are therefore less prepared 3 . One study found that only 20% of all hospitals have response plans for incidents involving chemical or biological weapons and that rural hospitals are only one third as likely as urban hospitals to possess such capacity 8 …”

Crises in Rural America: Critical Incidents, Trauma and Disasters.

“…Technological Disasters Webb (1989) describes the accidental introduction of the fire retardant polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) into the food chain of Michigan in 1973 as an example of an insidious, slowly developing, and continuing technological catastrophe. D. M. Hartsough's (Hartsough & Myers,1985) transactional model of natural disasters is utilized to provide a conceptual framework for the psychological effects of the PBB crisis.…”