WSGW Newsradio 790 Saginaw, MI

The recently announced Dow backed University of Michigan research study into dioxin blood levels is drawing fire.

The chemical company gave the University a 180 thousand dollar grant to seed the study concept. U of M researchers say the blood level study of Saginaw-Midland county residents, a similar Michigan community and Tittabawassee river flood plain residents will be free from Dow's influence.

Attorney for the residents suing Dow over the contamination Jan Helder says he doesn't buy it. He says if dioxin isn't a problem, which Dow has stated, then why not test river residents in the first phase of the study instead of last. He also has doubts on lead researcher and Professor of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology Doctor David Garabrant. Helder says he had worked on various similar industry backed studies. Garabrant currently sits on an advisory panel on air quality featuring past and present Dow Chemical board members. Helder believes if Dow wanted to get to the bottom of dioxin blood levels they would have given the money to a truly independent source, like the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

The study could also be on shaky legal ground. Because Helder says if class certification takes place in April anyone working with or for Dow will not be able to talk to river residents. Helder believes the law includes the U of M researchers.

The study is expected to start this spring with final results to be released in 2007.