The state Department of Health is advising those who hunt near the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers to watch what they eat.
Health officials report that samples of wild game taken from the floodplains in 2007 show high levels of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in "muscle meats, skin and other consumable portions of animals."
Similar findings from a Midland Dow Chemical Co.-sponsored study in 2004 prompted health advisories for whitetail deer, turkey, and squirrel. Dow also funded the 2007 research.
The new warnings focus on deer, turkey, squirrel, Canada goose and wood duck "in and around" the floodplains of both rivers.
The Health Department ruled out cottontail rabbit as a hazard if eaten.
For additional articles like this one, go to the Tittabawassee River Watch web site www.trwnews.net for complete coverage of the Tittabawassee River Dow Chemical dioxin contamination saga. . The Newspaper / Media page of our site contains an extensive archive of media articles dating back to January 2002. The source organization's web site link is listed to the right of the article, visit often for other news in our area. The Newspaper / Media page may be accessed by scrolling down to the bottom of the CONTENTS section and clicking on the Newspaper/Media link.