Contaminated Communities: Coping With Residential Toxic Exposure, Second Edition

Given the myriad fears and dangers associated with residential toxic exposure, it is surprising that until now no comprehensive examination of the social dynamics of exposure has been available. In Contaminated Communities, Michael R. Edelstein provides a foundation for understanding complex responses to incidents of toxic contamination-responses of the public, government agencies, members of the helping professions, and victims themselves. Drawing upon social psychological theory and an extensive survey of documented cases of toxic exposure, enlivened by excerpts drawn from more than a thousand interviews with victims, the author presents a candid and moving portrayal of the toxic victim's experience and the key stages in the course of toxic disaster. Of particular value is Edelstein's analysis of the effects of toxic exposure on life-style and on cognition, in which he explains how individuals' perceptions of themselves, their families, their community, the environment, and their government gradually change after exposure. The analysis provides both a descriptive and a theoretical framework for interpreting individual, family, community, and societal dynamics and their mutual influences and important insights into the culture of contamination. An outstanding example of "action research," this book seeks to improve our understanding of the threat of toxic disaster as a means of enhancing our ability to respond effectively.In the second edition to this groundbreaking text, the author updates and supplements the existing material with hundreds of new citations and an greatly expanded bibliography.