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Bitter Harvest
KIRKUS REVIEW [1978]
As a record of the detection required to identify polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) contamination in Michigan in 1974, this is a we-were-there effort which chronicles the elusive particulars as well as a lot of trivia.
The Halbert dairy farm was the first to call attention to the signs--initially, a dip in milk production-and press for an investigation. Rick Halbert, formerly a Dow Chemical engineer, found that most bureaucrats showed brief interest and then brushed the matter aside. But his cows kept failing, their feed killed off test animals, and he persevered for nine months--a tenacious quest, which his wife documents along with her chest pains and anxiety attacks, his bad temper, and too many other family circle inconsequentials.
Ultimately, the culprit was tracked down--a fire retardant inadvertently mixed with cattle feed--and more than 30,000 animals were slaughtered, buried in a mass grave. But that wasn't the end of it, and here, again, the book could use more shaping and direction. Four years later, PBB still contaminates cows in dairy farms, rabbits and deer in surrounding areas, house-furnace filters, and human systems--the sources of residual contamination are difficult to locate or extinguish. The feed and chemical companies responsible have paid out close to $40 million in compensation but the larger issues remain. . . and remain virtually undiscussed here. An inside view which unnecessarily shadows the central concern with family incidentals.
As a record of the detection required to identify polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) contamination in Michigan in 1974, this is a we-were-there effort which chronicles the elusive particulars as well as a lot of trivia.
The Halbert dairy farm was the first to call attention to the signs--initially, a dip in milk production-and press for an investigation. Rick Halbert, formerly a Dow Chemical engineer, found that most bureaucrats showed brief interest and then brushed the matter aside. But his cows kept failing, their feed killed off test animals, and he persevered for nine months--a tenacious quest, which his wife documents along with her chest pains and anxiety attacks, his bad temper, and too many other family circle inconsequentials.
Ultimately, the culprit was tracked down--a fire retardant inadvertently mixed with cattle feed--and more than 30,000 animals were slaughtered, buried in a mass grave. But that wasn't the end of it, and here, again, the book could use more shaping and direction. Four years later, PBB still contaminates cows in dairy farms, rabbits and deer in surrounding areas, house-furnace filters, and human systems--the sources of residual contamination are difficult to locate or extinguish. The feed and chemical companies responsible have paid out close to $40 million in compensation but the larger issues remain. . . and remain virtually undiscussed here. An inside view which unnecessarily shadows the central concern with family incidentals.
Paperback
Published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 11, 2024
Fascinating true story of Frederic Halbert’s quest to find out what was causing his dairy cattle to become sick and die in Michigan in 1973. Stymied by local, state, and federal bureaucrats, institutions of higher learning, veterinarians, feed companies, and chemical producers, Fred’s tenacity and education in chemical engineering drove him to find an answer to his heartbreaking situation. After months of friction, Fred and Dr. George Fries identified the contaminant…PBB (polybrominated biphenyl), which is a fire retardant that was mistakenly mixed into the cattle feed by the feed company and their chemical supplier. Remarkable story of perseverance. The book was written in 1978 by Fred and his wife Sandra, and later made into a movie staring Ron Howard in 1981. Read it!
December 13, 2017
Heart wrenching but well written and important.
November 5, 2025
This book was fascinating and gut wrenching. I actually had a front seat to this story in 1973 as a small child because my first cousins are the nieces of Karl and Nile, the farmhands mentioned in the book. I remembered some of what was discussed at our dinner table about this disaster but this book brought to light so much more about the cattle feed contamination. A must read for anyone who lived in the 70s in Michigan
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews