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Effects of a Community Toxic Release on the Psychological Status of Children

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Abstract

This study sought to determine the emotional effects of a major community toxic release on children in the exposed community while controlling for the potential effects of response bias. Controlling for the response bias inherent in litigated contexts is an advance over previous studies of toxic exposure in children. A randomly selected representative sample of Exposed children (n = 31) was compared to a matched Control group (n = 28) from a nearby, unexposed community. Symptoms and complaints were assessed via interview with the children and their guardians, surveys and checklists, and well-established psychological instruments. Even when biased responding was controlled the Exposed children experienced more psychological distress, more physical symptoms, and greater general concern over their physical functioning than the Controls. The Exposed children also reported some concern about their future health and cancer risk but usually only if asked. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, 70148, USA

    Kevin W. Greve, Kevin J. Bianchini, Timothy R. Stickle & Jeffrey M. Love

  2. Jefferson Neurobehavioral Group, Metairie, LA, USA

    Kevin W. Greve, Kevin J. Bianchini, Jeffrey M. Love, Bridget M. Doane & Matthew D. Thompson

  3. Childrens Hospital, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Matthew D. Thompson

Authors
  1. Kevin W. Greve
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  2. Kevin J. Bianchini
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  3. Timothy R. Stickle
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  4. Jeffrey M. Love
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  5. Bridget M. Doane
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  6. Matthew D. Thompson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin W. Greve.

Additional information

This project was completed as part of an expert psychological evaluation conducted by the first two authors at the request of the Eunice Train Derailment Plaintiffs’ Liaison Committee. A settlement had been reached in this case prior to submission of the manuscript. The authors would like to thank the Jefferson Neurobehavioral Group team. Without them this project could not have been completed. Timothy R. Stickle is now at University of Vermont, Jeffrey M. Love is now at Pennsylvania State University, and Bridget Doane is now at the University of Alabama.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Asked of Minor Claimant

  1. 1.

    What was your first thought when you realized something had happened?

  2. 2.

    Describe your experience of the derailment. [Answer should include: location at the time of the event; whether claimant witnessed event or aftermath; did you evacuate and for how long. Cue if claimant does not respond spontaneously.]

  3. 3.

    Acute effects of this experience. Answer should include both physical and emotional and whether claimant had any medical or psychological treatment within the month following the event. [Cue if claimant does not respond spontaneously.]

  4. 4.

    What problems is claimant currently experiencing. [Leave open-ended. Get approximate date of onset.] Does claimant attribute the problem or worsening of the problem (if pre-dates incident) to the derailment?

  5. 5.

    Concerns over future health and fear of cancer.

    1. a.

      Did claimant spontaneously report (above) concern over own or other’s future health because of the derailment? [yes or no]

    2. b.

      Did claimant spontaneously report (above) concern over own or other’s risk for developing cancer because of the derailment? [yes or no]

    3. c.

      If claimant has not already brought up concerns for health or risk of cancer, ask:

    4.  

      “What concerns do you have about your future health status?” or “What concerns do you have about your risk for cancer?” [if they have already raised the future health concern].

    5.  

      Otherwise, ask them to go into more detail about their health/cancer concerns.

    6. d.

      Uncontrollable thoughts about cancer (how often, most recent). [yes or no]

    7. e.

      Dreams/nightmares about cancer (how often, most recent) [yes or no]

    8. f.

      Thoughts of cancer disturbing my sleep (how often, most recent) [yes or no]

  6. 6.

    Cancer Experience

    1. a.

      Have you ever been diagnosed with cancer? [yes or no]

    2.  

      If yes, date of diagnosis, what kind, type of treatment, prognosis/outcome?

    3. b.

      Has anyone you know been diagnosed cancer since the derailment? [yes or no]

    4.  

      If yes, relationship of person(s), what kind of cancer, type of treatment, prognosis/outcome, were they involved in the derailment?

    5. c.

      Was anyone you know diagnosed with cancer before the derailment? [yes or no]

    6.  

      If yes, relationship of person(s), what kind of cancer, type of treatment, prognosis/outcome?

Asked of the Representative of the Minor Claimant with Reference to the Minor Claimant

  1. 1.

    Describe your experience of the derailment. Answer should include: location at the time of the event; whether claimant witnessed event or aftermath; did you evacuate and for how long. [Cue if representative does not respond spontaneously.]

  2. 2.

    Acute effects of this experience. Answer should include both physical and emotional and whether claimant had any medical or psychological treatment within the month following the event. [Cue if representative does not respond spontaneously.]

  3. 3.

    What problems is claimant currently experiencing. [Leave open-ended.] Get approximate date of onset. Does claimant attribute the problem or worsening of the problem (if pre-dates incident) to the derailment?

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Greve, K.W., Bianchini, K.J., Stickle, T.R. et al. Effects of a Community Toxic Release on the Psychological Status of Children. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 37, 307–323 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-006-0036-3

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