Word: pbb
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Selikoff stressed that his conclusions are preliminary and do not necessarily apply to the millions of people in the state who may have consumed PBB-contaminated farm products. But convinced by the study that the chemicals were harmful to humans, Governor William Milliken and Bobby D. Crim, speaker of the state's house of representatives, immediately urged that the levels of PBBs permitted in food by state regulations be drastically reduced...
...PBB problem came to light in 1973 when Frederic Halbert, 31, a Battle Creek dairy farmer who holds a master's degree in chemical engineering, noticed that his cows did not seem to be eating much and that the herd's milk production had dropped dramatically from the normal 13,000 lbs. per day to 7,600 lbs. When veterinarians were unable to diagnose the problem, Halbert decided to study it for himself. By giving calves feed from half a dozen different sources, he traced the ailment to a product purchased earlier that year from Farm Bureau Services...
Cover Up. Since the PBB contamination was discovered in Michigan in May 1974, Farm Bureau Services and Michigan Chemical Corp., which produced the PBBs, have settled 500 claims from farmers at a cost of $30 million. Some 300 more claims are pending, and even more may be filed. Though researchers have yet to make any direct links between PBB exposure and illness in humans, several farmers claim that they and their families have been affected by the chemicals, and have suffered from headaches, dizziness and sore joints...
Farmers angrily maintain that state officials have tried to cover up the scandal, which is already being referred to as Cattlegate. Gerald Woltjer, 39, who has lost 600 cows because of PBB contamination during the past two years, feels that the state agriculture department was indifferent to early reports about PBB poisoning. Other farmers are irate over the department's decision to allow farm products with currently allowable PBB levels to be sold. Says Alvin Green, 58, of Chase, who shot and buried 150 cows last November: "I don't think it's right to put this...
Agriculture department officials contend that farmers have exaggerated the extent of PBB contamination, and have used it in a few cases as an excuse for poor livestock management. They also insist they have found no detectable levels of PBBs in any milk, cheese or dried milk sold at retail since June 1974. Governor William Milliken has moved to resolve the dispute by ordering an investigation. But even as the Governor's probers were beginning their work, officials quarantined three dairy herds because of PBB contamination...