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Michigan residents has been exposed to low levels of polybrominated biphenyol (PBB) for the past four years. A more toxic relative of the federally-banned chemical PCB, PBB entered the Michigan food chain through state-distributed feed grain. Thousands of cattle and 1.5 million chickens have been killed or maimed by the disease. Others have been quarantined, dying slowly of PBB-related diseases. But many animals were sold before the state realized the danger. Over 10,000 people in the state, mostly farmers, now have traces of PBB in their bodies that exceed the danger level for cattle...
...BEEF ALERT. Michigan farmers, who last year lost thousands of cattle to poisoning when a fire retardant called polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) was accidentally mixed with feed, were faced with a new nightmare. Alarmed by the open sores developing on his cattle and the growing number of stillborn calves, Dairy Farmer George LeMunyon of Cedar Springs called in investigators. They discovered that cattle in his herd, and those on at least seven other farms in the state, have been ingesting a wood preservative called pentachlorophenol (PCP)-probably when the animals licked the sides of their feed bins. Because the preservative contains...
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...
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...