Tittabawassee River Watch Editorial
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Michael Carson 11/30/04
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Editor, The News:
Dr. Neill Varner, medical director of Saginaw Country Department of Public Health, made several informative points in his letter Nov. 18 regarding the release of the latest study of Dow workers exposed to dioxins.
Perhaps most compelling was his explanation that "we cannot and must not conclude that all cancers in people living in the floodplain are due to dioxins ...."
The recent Dow study, which brings to 17 the number of studies conducted by Dow during the past 50 years, is part of a continuing effort by Dow to closely monitor worker health, particularly among those who have been exposed to dioxins at significant levels.
The impact of such exposures on these workers is relevant to residents because it provides real-world data about individuals who are known to have been exposed. Since the potential for exposure to dioxins in local communities is far lower than the actual exposure of these workers, it follows that the risk to local residents is lower than that of the Dow workers.
The 17 studies Dow has conducted have examined the health of workers with dioxin exposure for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, birth defects, reproductive diseases, kidney disease, blood disorders and overall mortality. We have found little indication of any health effect related to dioxin exposure in our workers.
These studies, which cover more than 2,000 workers from local communities, have found that while some highly exposed workers developed a skin condition called chloracne, that condition went away after they left the plant. Otherwise, overall, there have been no increases in disease rates, cancer or health risks related to dioxins after 50 years of follow up.
The most recent study, which measured blood dioxin levels in these workers, strengthened these conclusions and confirmed that their exposure was measurably higher than background levels in the general public.
Dr. Varner's explanation is well-founded: Attributing local cancer cases to the potential for local dioxin exposure is unwarranted.
Dr. Michael Carson
regional medical director,
Dow Chemical Co.
Midland