Data released in May by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed that Dow Chemical Company in Midland is overwhelmingly the largest dioxin emitter in Michigan. Dow Chemical's reported dioxin emissions in Michigan are more than all other reporting industries in Michigan combined.

Dioxin is toxic in tiny amounts. Significant health effects in the laboratory are seen at exposures to the most toxic form of dioxin in the trillionths of a gram. Of the 510 grams of dioxin released in the state in 2000, Dow is responsible for 326 grams. Dow's dioxin releases to water represent 97% of all releases to water in the state. Similarly, Dow's dioxin releases to land represent almost 96% of the total.

"The EPA's new data lend significant support to speculation that Dow is an ongoing source of dioxin downstream in Saginaw County," said Michelle Hurd Riddick of the Lone Tree Council, an MEC member group.

"For those communities living downstream and downwind, indeed, all those who eat fish from Michigan's waters, this new information highlights the need to focus on Midland. Until Dow commits to a real effort to reduce its dioxin output, we all stand at risk," added Lone Tree's Terry Miller.

Dow's dioxin releases were entirely to the surrounding community and were not sent off-site. Of on-site releases, Dow's contribution made up nearly 90% of the state's total. For all dioxin releases, both on-site and to off-site treatment facilities, Dow's contribution makes up 64% of the state's total. "It's long past time to assess the dioxin problem in this state, and move toward solutions-and the place to start is the Midland/Saginaw area and Dow," said Diane Hebert of Environmental Health Watch in Midland.

Other large dioxin emitters in Michigan include Alchem Aluminum in Coldwater (81.82 grams) and IMCO Recycling, also of Coldwater (64.02 grams). Mead Paper of Escanaba (12.59 grams) is the fourth-largest emitter. There are 26 other companies on the list.

Environmental groups in Michigan renewed their calls for a comprehensive and fully-open investigation of dioxin contamination in the Midland/Saginaw area and a plan for the eventual phase out of dioxin releases. Environmentalists also called again for a comprehensive dioxin elimination plan to protect the citizens of Michigan.

"Each of us is already 'full' of dioxin," said Tracey Easthope, MPH, Director of the Environmental Health Project at the Ecology Center. "The dioxin in all of our bodies already may be causing health effects. Additional exposures must be stopped."

Ninety percent of our exposure to dioxin comes from the food we eat, especially fish, dairy, meat and eggs. Dioxin does not break down easily in the environment. Once we are exposed, it accumulates in our bodies. Dioxin is a by-product of chemical and industrial processes such as the manufacture of plastics, pesticides and other chlorinated chemicals. Not all dioxin sources are required to report under this inventory. Other sources include medical and municipal incinerators.

To see the data, go to www.epa. gov/triexplorer. n

Why is dioxin dangerous?

Dioxin is one of the most toxic chemicals known. In fact, the EPA, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the National Toxicology Program have all classified dioxin as a known human carcinogen. Dioxin is also known to cause more subtle health effects such as attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, weakened immune systems, infertility and birth defects. Dioxin has been called the 'new lead' because, like lead, its effects are particularly pronounced with children, can include impairments in basic functions, and because we are all exposed.

While there is some evidence that dioxin levels in the environment are decreasing, existing emissions still pose a significant health threat because of the high levels of dioxin present in our bodies and because of the exquisite toxicity of dioxin. The new data indicates that over 99,814 grams were released in 2000, considerably higher than earlier EPA estimates.

Top 10 mercury emitters to Michigan's air
(figures in pounds)

788 Detroit Edison Monroe Power Plant
406 Consumers Energy J.H. Campbell Plant, West Olive
372 National Steel, Great Lakes Division, Ecorse
330 Detroit Edison Belle River Plant, St. Clair County
327 Southdown Cement, Charlevoix
300 Consumers Energy Karn Weadock Plant, Bay City
250 Detroit Edison, St. Clair Power Plant, St. Clair County
169 Detroit Edison Trenton Channel Power Plant
120 Consumers Energy Whiting Plant, Erie
98 Lansing Board of Water and Light

Source: U.S. EPA Toxic Release Inventory

Top 10 emitters of listed toxic chemicals to Michigan's air
(figures in pounds)

9,974,261 Detroit Edison Monroe Power Plant
5,460,337 Consumers Energy J.H. Campbell Plant, West Olive
3,886,985 Consumers Energy Karn Weadock Plant, Bay City
2,160,976 Detroit Edison Trenton Channel Plant
1,743,085 General Motors Corporation Truck, Pontiac
1,589,378 Lansing Board of Water and Light Eckert Plant
1,425,371 Holnam Cement, Dundee
1,384,399 Detroit Edison River Rouge Plant
1,379,999 Fibermark, Rochester
1,264,806 Consumers Energy Whiting Plant
911,019 EPCO Presque Isle Plant, Marquette
856,676 Consumers Energy BC Cobb, Muskegon
840,046 Intertape Polymer Group, Marysville
781,190 Ford Motor Wayne Assembly
755,600 FCO IND, Inc., Holland

Source: U.S. EPA Toxic Release Inventory