Wednesday, March 17, 2004

JEREMIAH STETTLER
THE SAGINAW NEWS

Squeaky clean? Prove it, environmentalists say.

The environmental watchdog group Lone Tree Council wants the University of Michigan to reveal any ties between David H. Garabrant, a U-M professor of occupational medicine and epidemiology, and Dow Chemical Co.

Environmentalists fear that Garabrant, the lead researcher in a Dow-sponsored study of human dioxin levels, has a relationship with the company that could skew his results.

"We want to make sure Dr. Garabrant doesn't have any conflict of interest in doing this study for Dow," said Michelle Hurd-Riddick, Lone Tree spokeswoman. "He needs to be squeaky clean if this study is going to fly."

Anne Ainsworth, a Dow spokeswoman, said Dow has a history of consulting with Garabrant on occupational medical questions, adding that Garabrant is uniquely qualified -- as is the University of Michigan -- to carry out the study.

She said Dow also considered hiring Harvard, St. Louis and Emory universities, but that Dow's short time frame and U-M's proximity made Garabrant the best choice.

"There are probably only four or five (other doctors) in the U.S. and only another two or three in the world who are qualified," Ainsworth said.

She added that although a $180,000 Dow grant to U-M is funding Garabrant's effort "to design a control study," there is no threat of bias.

"This is not a Dow study," she said. "It is a Dr. Garabrant study."

Lone Tree wants all communication between Garabrant and Dow, documents that would determine whether the professor is conducting legal or medical consulting for Dow and any information about financial or academic ties to the chemical company.

Garabrant said the accusations of bias are unfounded and unsettling.

"The University of Michigan has an outstanding reputation for doing unbiased, honest and balanced research," he said. "For people to say that the university is going to do biased research, or has a structure that would tolerate bias, is an unprecedented accusation."

Garabrant denied any existing financial or occupational ties to the company and said that he is not involved in any legal or medical consulting for Dow.

Lone Tree plans to submit a Freedom of Information Act request this week. This is the group's second such request.

Lone Tree originally asked for the information in mid-February. In a letter last weekend, the university denied parts of the request, declared others too broad and asked the group to pay a $125 processing fee to dig up "all communications" between Garabrant and Dow.

The request is the latest inquiry into questions of bias raised around a U-M study of human dioxin levels.

U-M researchers have announced plans to conduct a comprehensive exposure investigation into dioxin levels inside and outside the Tittabawassee River floodplain.

They plan to sample the dust and blood of hundreds of people along the river, outside the floodplain but in Saginaw and Midland counties, and outside the county. They hope to determine how much dioxin typically is found in residents and how those levels differ by living along the river.

But some environmental groups and health agencies have questioned the study's objectivity.

The state Department of Environmental Quality and federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry released a critique of the plan last week.

Health officials urged the university and Dow to form a science advisory panel, administered by the nonprofit Michigan Public Health Institute, and to establish an independent data center that would collect, archive and prepare the data.

Officials also suggested that U-M have an independent organization, such as the Public Health Institute, select members for its proposed community advisory panel.

Brendan Boyle, specialist in the state Division of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology, said the recommendations would ensure that the study is unbiased and well-respected.

Garabrant said he welcomes the agencies' feedback. Although he did not commit to patterning the study after their recommendations, he said he will consider their input.

"We broadly endorse the themes to ensure that the study is done in an unbiased manner," he said. "We are delighted at the opportunity to engage in a cooperative effort to answer concerns about dioxin." t

Jeremiah Stettler is a staff writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach him at 776-9685.

© 2004 Saginaw News