Mortality Studies "A"

There are a variety of issues associated with dioxin contamination in Midland Areas soils and in the floodplain of the Tittabawassee River. Central to all of the issues is the same question, "Are dioxins harmful to human health at the levels being found in Midland and floodplain soils?"

The Dow Chemical Company believes that the answer is "No... dioxins are not harmful to human health". If the company is correct, then the issues are ones of public perception, not legal liability.

If the answer is "Yes.., dioxins are harmful to health", then the various issues that have arisen over the years are probably valid and corrective action is warranted and, possibly, even mandatory.  In this case, Dow’s legal liability is significant and the company’s financial exposure may be substantial.

Dow is a significant legal opponent. The company is extremely well resourced and has been preparing for potential legal challenges for many, many years. For every independent scientific study that concludes that dioxins are harmful, Dow has countered with an internal study that disputes those outside conclusions. The battle between "harm" and "no harm" has been waged for more than forty years and, in this struggle, just mudding waters may be sufficient to delay resolution.

Rather than presenting outside scientific studies that have been already challenged by Dow, perhaps the best way to address the toxicology issues is to examine Dow’s own studies and determine if Dow’s claims are supported by its own data.

I believe that Dow’s position is basically as presented on Dow’s Dioxin Data website for September 17, 2003, "Numerous studies – including vital studies by the Environmental Protection Agency, Midland County Public Health Department and Dow – show that the health of the Midland County residents and Dow workers is better than both the state and national averages." Dow’s website also claimed, "Dow has published more than 20 scientific papers... These studies show no convincing evidence of links between specific cancers and potential dioxin exposures."

Are these statements truly accurate or just "DioxinSpin"?

Dow has been moving the Dow dioxin-worker mortality studies from one website to another and, as a result, the site is not easy to find via most search engines.  The current Dow web site address for the studies is as follows.  A link to the site has also been provided.

Link = http://www.dow.com/facilities/namerica/michigan/dioxin/scientific/health.htm

This section has been sub-divided into the following topics.  The majority of the topics will be presented in Acrobat Reader documents that will allow easier printing and downloading should any reader wish to do so.

     •   Epidemiology Concepts:   A brief discussion of terms used in Epidemiology
               studies :   Select for more information

     •   "Vital Studies" : US EPA    EPA studies supposedly confirming the excellent health of
               Dow employees and Midland residents have not been found. Select for more information

     •    Midland County Public Health Department studies  MCPDH studies are flawed
               and possibly invalid.  Select For More Comments and Information 
                                                             MCDPH Cancer Rate Study   MCDPH Cancer Focus                                                                                   

     •    Cancer risk for chemical workers exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin,
             The Dow Chemical Company, KM Bodner, et al, 2002.  Examination and
                discussion of a mortality study of dioxin exposed workers encompassing
                1940 to 1994.  Select for more information    Bodner, 2003 Study

     •     Cancer Rates of Chemical Workers Exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-
                dioxin, The Dow Chemical Company, Feb. 13, 2002 - Delayed : Dow
                  has not responded to repeated requests for a copy of this study.