I too would like to nominate the
Midland/Saginaw dioxin problem as one of the most important and by far the MOST
UNDER-REPORTED environmental story in Michigan,
let alone the US.
The Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers in Michigan
have the highest concentration of dioxin every found in the US.
According to the Chicago Tribune, November 26, 2007 River's dioxin level may be EPA
record-high
A find of dioxin at the
bottom of the Saginaw River could be the highest level of such contamination
ever discovered in the nation's rivers and lakes, according to a federal
scientist involved in cleanup efforts downstream from a Dow Chemical Co. plant
in Midland. ..about 20 times higher than any other
find recorded in the EPA archives.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-dow_natnov26,0,2731872.story
Recall 20 year ago, the Love Canal NY area was evacuated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Canal
Also, Times Beach, Missouri was a small town of 2240 residents near St. Louis. It was
completely leveled in the mid-1980s due to a dioxin scare. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Beach,_Missouri
Both of these stories, it seems,
were carried in the national press and television almost every day. President
Carter, the EPA, federal, state and local politicians took action – and these
two towns had much less dioxin than here. However, the Michigan dioxin problem
has received little national media, political – and, health tracking
attention. (The Detroit Free Press and a few other Michigan newspapers
report on this story. http://www.trwnews.org/newspape.htm )
The biggest travesty in this
under-reported story is the health problems experienced by Midland and Saginaw residents. According to one very
informed resident, “A Midland County medical director
stated that Midland has one of, if not the highest rate of
diabetes in the country. There has
never been a health study here to investigate such claims, but I have heard
at least 100 anecdotal stories from area residents over the years of incredible
health problems. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and prostate cancer…and very rare ones
as well.” Many young people have been stricken.
Perhaps an
investigative reporter (health official or politician) could look into the
medical side of this story and also the foot dragging to resolve this
environmental disaster. (I have also taken the liberty to forward this email to
many national media sites.)
See Tittabawassee River Watch
site http://www.trwnews.org/ for
details.
Have a healthy New Years, frank
Frank Zaski
Franklin. Mi.
248 855
5018