Toxic turmoil : psychological and societal consequences of ecological disasters / edited by Johan M. Havenaar, Julie G. Cwikel, and Evelyn J. Bromet.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Havenaar, Johan M., 1954-

Cwikel, Julie G.

Bromet, Evelyn J.

Series:

Plenum series on stress and coping

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Natural disasters--Psychological aspects.

Natural disasters.

Natural disasters--Social aspects.

Stress (Psychology).

Physical Description:

xiii, 279 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : Kluwer Academic, [2002]

Summary:

This book presents an overview of research on the psychological and societal consequences of ecological disasters. It gives in-depth case studies on most of the major incidents that have occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. It summarizes the accumulated knowledge in this area and identifies areas of future research. It can serve as a resource for practitioners and policymakers dealing with current and future ecological calamities and may help them to define an adequate response to the complex public health challenges these incidents represent.

Contents:

Chapter 1. Ecological Disaster: A Concern for the Future / Johan M. Havenaar 3

When Worst Comes to Worst 4

What Are Ecological Disasters? 7

Pathogenic Mechanisms in Ecological Disasters 9

Common Controversies about the Health Effects of Ecological Disasters 11

Can the Psychological and Societal Health Effects of Ecological Disasters Be Prevented? 14

Chapter 2. Public Health Aspects of Chemical Catastrophes / Peter J. Baxter 19

Medical Consequences of Chemical Disasters 21

Incident Investigation 23

Chemical Syndromes 23

Routes of Exposure 25

Evacuation Incidents 31

Epidemics Suspected of Having a Chemical Origin 31

Psychological and Societal Impacts 32

Disaster Mitigation and Health-Risk Assessment 33

Chapter 3. Understanding the Psychological and Societal Response of Individuals, Groups, Authorities, and Media to Toxic Hazards / Julie G. Cwikel, Johan M. Havenaar, Evelyn J. Bromet 39

Stress-Related Health Effects of Ecological Disasters 41

The Social Epidemiological Model for Understanding Health Effects of Ecological Disasters 43

Agent Factors 45

Host Factors 47

Environmental Factors 49

Identifying High-Risk Groups 51

The Role of Public Information 52

Applied Social Epidemiology

Community Interventions with Immigrants to Israel from the Areas around Chernobyl 58

Part II Case Examples of Ecological Disasters

Chapter 4. Psychological Response of Mothers of Young Children to the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Accidents One Decade Later / Evelyn J. Bromet, Leighann Litcher 69

Analysis 74

Results 74

Chapter 5. The Chaotic Aftermath of an Airplane Crash in Amsterdam: A Second Disaster / Joris Yzermans, Berthold P. R. Gersons 85

Facts and Chronology 86

Chapter 6. The Gulf War and Its Aftermath / Simon Wessely 101

Gulf War Syndrome 102

The Evidence So Far 103

The Explanations 106

Attributions and Explanations 112

Chapter 7. Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster: Impact on Mental Health / R. Srinivasa Murthy 129

The Disaster 130

Impact on Health 131

Impact on Mental Health 133

Mental Health Interventions 137

Lessons from the Bhopal Disaster 141

Chapter 8. Psychological and Physical Health Effects of the 1995 Sarin Attack in the Tokyo Subway System / Nozomu Asukai, Kazuhiko Maekawa 149

Overview of the Event 150

Acute Effects 151

Long-Term Effects 157

Chapter 9. Perceived Health and Psychosocial Well-Being in the Aral Sea Area: Results from a Survey in an Area of Slow Environmental Degradation / Joost B. W. van der Meer, Ian B. Small, Eric J. Crighton, Nathan Ford 163

History 165

Social and Health Effects 167

Measuring Perceived Health and Psychosocial Well-Being 168

Results of the Psychosocial Assessment 170

Part III Dealing with Ecological Disaster

Chapter 10. Methodological Issues in the Investigation of Chemical Accidents / Hilary M. P. Fielder, Stephen R. Palmer, Gary Coleman 185

Epidemiology of Incidents 186

Preparedness for Epidemiological Study

The Chemical Incident Plan 188

Response Phase and Follow-Up 190

The Chronic Phase: Long-Term Exposures and Effects 193

Chapter 11. Responding to the Psychosocial Effects of Toxic Disaster: Policy Initiatives, Constraints, and Challenges / Steven M. Becker 199

Psychosocial Interventions after Toxic Disaster 200

Addressing the Psychosocial Effects of Toxic Disaster: Policy Initiatives 206

The Big Picture: A Paucity of Policy Initiatives 209

Constraints and Impediments 209

Chapter 12. Voices from the Inside: Psychological Responses to Toxic Disasters / Anne Speckhard 217

Comprehending Ecological Disaster 218

Eyewitness and Early Accounts 218

Initial Reactions 220

Long-Term Responses 226

Reactions to Official Responses 232

Chapter 13. Disasters and the Selection of Public Mental Health Priorities: A Perspective from Developing Countries / Joop de Jong 237

Public Mental Health Criteria 239

Weighing the Seven Criteria 255

Chapter 14. Epilogue: Lessons Learned and Unresolved Issues / Johan M. Havenaar, Julie G. Cwikel, Evelyn J. Bromet 259

Quality of Interventions in Ecological Disasters 262.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0306467844

OCLC:

49624956