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Dangerous Dioxons in Saginaw County Part One in a Series By Vern Pococke What Are Dioxins? Dioxins are a family of structurally related chemicals. They are an unwanted by-product stemming from herbicides such as Agent Orange, the bleaching of wood pulp with chlorine gas and metal refining. Another major source comes from various combustion activities: the burning of leaded gas, waste incineration, and even forest fires and volcanoes. The distribution of dioxins into the environment usually occurs when they are emitted into the air. They then settle on soil and water. Because dioxins are resistant to degradation, they "bio-accumulate" up the food chain. While suspended in air, dioxins may be breathed in and absorbed into the lungs. They may also be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract by consuming animals, birds and fish that have been contaminated. Great Lakes fish are contaminated with dioxins. The most contaminated fish are the carp found in the Tittabawassee River. Once absorbed, dioxins will eventually lodge in your liver and fat. Studies show dioxins cause adverse effects on wildlife, domestic animals and laboratory animals. In humans, subtle effects of dioxin exposure have been detected in most of the general population. Clear evidence of adverse health effects has been evidenced in highly exposed populations. Some of these adverse health effects include porphyria, endometriosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, altered immune status, decreased testosterone levels and cognitive deficits. The "hallmark of dioxin toxicity" is chloracne. The public health position of the federal Environmental Protection Agency is to reduce sources of dioxin and their environmental levels and decrease exposure. The above is a summary taken from information collected and presented by Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T.; Director, Human Studies Division, United States Environmental Protection Agency. How Long Must We Wait Before the Truth is Finally Revealed? In April 2000, employees of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) conducted soil tests near the Greenpoint area in the Tittabawassee River floodplain. They discovered levels of dioxin contamination up to 80 times greater than levels deemed tolerable by state standards. Nearly 20 months later, in December, 2001, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) recommended the state "implement the MDEQ Phases II soil sampling plan immediately to determine if dioxin contamination is present in floodplain soil in the Tittabawassee River watershed between the Phase I sampling locations and the city of Midland." Rather than take timely action, MDEQ Director Russell Harding has chosen to hold off further testing. He has chosen to wait until the MDCH and federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) issue their final report on the matter. When will this final draft report be ultimately issued? If this excessive dioxin contamination of the Tittasbawassee River floodplain occurred when the river rushed through parts of the Dow Chemical complex in Midland during the "Flood of '86;" haven't we waited long enough already? If the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is correct in its assessment that extended exposure by humans to high levels of dioxin can cause cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, shouldn't we be concerned? These are the questions we need to answer:
If the state continues to stall efforts to thoroughly assess the extent of this contamination and answer these serious community health questions, we must look to Saginaw County officials to assume this burden as soon as possible. In the mean time, we are left to wait and wonder.
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