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Psychological, psychosocial, and psychophysiological sequelae in a community affected by a railroad chemical disaster

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Journal of Traumatic Stress

Abstract

Psychological, psychosocial, and psychophysiological sequelae were studied in a community which had experienced a railroad chemical spill of 19,000 gallons of the toxic pesticide metam sodium. Two hundred twenty exposed residents were compared to 114 controls and paired on age, education, gender, race, and number of children. A clinical interview and physiological measurements (blood pressure, pulse, and cortisol level) were taken, the MMPI-2, IES Scale, Mood Scale, Environmental Worry, Perceived Social Support, and Perceived Control Scale and a questionnaire were administered. Results indicated greater levels of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms in the spill residents in addition to greater environmental worry and lower perceived social support. Spill residents had higher blood pressure and less fluctuation of cortisol levels than controls. No difference on litigation status was obtained except on the IES, Intrusion and the POMS scales. Chemical disasters are associated with a wide variety of psychological, psychosocial, and physiological distress.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. San Francisco State University, 94132, San Francisco, California

    Rosemarie M. Bowler

  2. University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Canada

    Donna Mergler

  3. I.N.S.E.R.M., Paris France and University of Quebec at Montreal, Canada

    Guy Huel

  4. University of California San Francisco, 94143, San Francisco, California

    James E. Cone

Authors
  1. Rosemarie M. Bowler
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  2. Donna Mergler
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  3. Guy Huel
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  4. James E. Cone
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Bowler, R.M., Mergler, D., Huel, G. et al. Psychological, psychosocial, and psychophysiological sequelae in a community affected by a railroad chemical disaster. J Trauma Stress 7, 601–624 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02103010

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