Press Releases
August 15, 2006
Dow’s Dioxin Getting Into People Too
Dioxin from Dow’s contamination of mid-Michigan is getting into people, according to the results of a large study released today.
The $15 million dollar Dow-funded study found that consumption of fish and wildgame and living in contaminated areas resulted in increased levels of dioxin and related toxic chemicals in blood.
Dioxin can cause cancer and disrupt the reproductive, immune and hormone systems. Developing children are most at risk.
Residents living in the Tittabawassee River floodplain near Dow had median levels of dioxin in their blood 28 percent higher than a comparison group in Jackson and Calhoun counties.
“From worms to butterflies and from fish to deer, the entire watershed is contaminated. Today’s results confirm that Dow’s pollution is getting into people too,” said Tracey Easthope, MPH, of the Ecology Center.
“It is unacceptable to wait any longer to clean up this contaminated area. Each year of delay in cleanup means more children growing up in contaminated backyards, exposed to dioxin,” said Michelle Hurd Riddick of the Lone Tree Council.
“It’s time for Dow to take responsibility for this contamination and stop exposing the good people of these communities unnecessarily,” said Tess Karwoski, RN of the Michigan Environmental Council.
