In a letter
dated 12/3/03, the Michigan DEQ notified schools in the area to plan activities so that
students are not in direct contact with dioxin laden soils. The soils of frequently
flood parks located in the Tittabawassee River flood plain have been found by the
MDEQ to contain dioxin contamination with levels almost 38 times the
states Residential Direct Contact Criteria of 90 ppt. Click
here for levels discovered in Phase 2 sampling.
"...If school events are held in these areas, care should be taken to minimize students’ exposure to the contaminated soils. For example, hand washing stations have been installed in floodplain parks. Students should be encouraged to wash their hands after soil exposure, particularly before eating meals or snacks. Care must also be taken not to disturb wood chips or other barriers anticipated to be installed in the future to minimize exposure to bare soils. Events with high attendance are of special concern because exposure barriers are more likely to be disturbed when large numbers of people are present. The DEQ and the DCH also recommend that schools avoid activities such as science experiments requiring students to make direct contact with Tittabawassee River sediments downstream of Midland. ..."
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This link is an excerpt from the Tittabawassee River Watch www.trwnews.net site. The site contains hundreds of articles pertaining to the dioxin contaminiation of the Tittabawassee River in central Michigan USA by Dow Chemical Company. On-line infomraton includes dioxin related research, regulatory agency activity, class action lawsuit activity, 100's of newspaper articles, citizen editorials, and much more. Click here to visit to visit..