Report says dioxin in river is a threat to wildlife

(TV5) Midland--If dioxin is harmful to wildlife, what is it doing to people? That is the question being asked by people who live along the Tittabawassee River flood plane, after a state reporter indicates a high level of dioxins in the river.

The report, released by the Department of Environmental Quality, suggest that fish-eating birds have a hard time reproducing because of the high levels of dioxins in the fish they eat. Some people say this study confirms suspicions they've had about the dioxins in the Tittabawassee River for years.

But Dow Chemical, the company that released the dioxins into the river years ago, contends the river is actually improving, and more testing needs to be done. Sarah Opperman, a Dow spokesperson, says the river is actually better now than it was before, and uses our nations symbol as an example. According to Opperman, the eagle population, which feeds on fish from the river, has increased in the last ten years, and more extensive studies need to be conducted.

But according to environmentalist, the report suggest if you do fish and hunt along the Tittabawassee River, the dioxin levels in fish and water fowl are high, and moving up the food chain.

The Department of Environmental Quality says this is just the beginning. They are now taking samples from the Saginaw River to determine just how far the dioxins have spread.

The Department of Environmental Quality has the entire 48-page report, along with other information about this story, posted on their website. To link to their site just click HERE.