Dioxin study results released Tuesday
Kathie Marchlewski, Midland Daily News
08/13/2006

It’s a question that’s been bearing on Tittabawassee River flood plain residents’ minds — and on the minds of Dow Chemical Co. Officials for years — is dioxin contamination from soils there also finding its way into bodies?

University of Michigan researchers conducting a dioxin exposure study are about to answer that question.

The study is funded by Dow Chemical.

 The team will present study results at a community meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Saginaw Valley State University, in the Conference and Event Center at Curtiss Hall.

 Dr. David Garabrant, professor of environmental health sciences, professor of epidemiology, and associate professor of emergency medicine has been leading the team, and said the meeting will be the first of many, with more technical information being presented beginning in the fall.

A summary of the study’s findings will be handed out at the meeting, and will be available to browse online at 10 a.m. Tuesday on the study’s website, www.umdioxin.org .

The study announced in January 2004 is expected to help guide potential dioxin remediation efforts.

 "We believe those data will have considerable value to the Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Community Health and The Dow Chemical Co.," Garabrant said, referring to the groups’ efforts to resolve the contamination problem.

Field work for the study has been complete since October of last year. More than 1,300 people were interviewed, 952 gave blood for analysis, and 732 took part in all four components of the screening; giving personal histories about diet and lifestyle, soil from their yards, house dust and blood.

 Garabrant said more than 3,000 samples were analyzed for dioxin.

Personal results have already been revealed to participants – 352 flood plain residents, 196 Midland and Saginaw residents and 183 Jackson and Calhoun county residents. There were five population groups queried for the study; those living within the Tittabawassee’s flood plain, those living next to the flood plain, those living in Midland downwind of the Dow plant, and those living locally, but away from any expected Dow-related contamination. Jackson and Calhoun residents were chosen for their demographic likeness to Midland and Saginaw county residents.

The study measured dioxin levels in the blood, residential soil and house dust. Since people normally have a certain amount of dioxin in their blood from the nation’s food supply, blood samples were analyzed for the particular dioxins and furans expected to be associated with historical Dow operations.

 Researchers also plan to present the study at a global conference on dioxin later this month.

©Midland Daily News 2006
 

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