Dioxin Research

 
 

University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study

The University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study (UMDES; 2003-2009) is funded by the Dow Chemical Company to investigate whether the elevated levels of dioxins in the soil in the city of Midland, and in the Tittabawassee River flood plain between Midland and Saginaw, have caused elevated levels of dioxins in residents' bodies. For comparison purposes we performed similar measurements among residents in Jackson and Calhoun Counties. 


The study brings together investigators from the School for Public Health, The Institute for Social Research, the College of Engineering, and the Department of Biostatistics.  The study consisted of the the following datasets:  soil samples, house dust samples, vegetation samples, blood serum samples, and a time history calendar (survey) of behavioral and dietary data. 


Our laboratory, in collaboration with Professor Avery Demond in EWRE and LimnoTech took the lead on the following tasks:


  1. 1. Environmental sampling design

  2. 2. Collection and analysis of soil samples

  3. 3. Geostatistical analysis of soil values

  4. 4. Fingerprinting of soil, dust and serum dioxin and PCB patterns

  5. 5. Deposition modeling of atmospheric dioxin emissions


All the data released to date, as well as protocols, and responses to criticism are posted on the UMDES website. 


Publications to date (excluding abstracts and conference proceedings):


  1. 1. Towey, T., Chang, S-C, , Demond, A, Wright, D, Barabas, N, Chen, Q,  Franzblau, A, Garabrant D, Gillespie, B, Lepkowski, J,  Hedgeman E, Knutson, K, Zwica, L, Luksemburg W, Maier M , and P. Adriaens. 2008.  Hierarchical Cluster Analysis of Dioxins and Furans in Michigan Soils: Differentiation of Industrial and Background Congener Profiles.  Environ. Toxicol. Chem., In Review.

  2. 2.Franzblau, A., A. Demond, T. Towey, P. Adriaens, S.-C. Chang, W. Luksemburg, M. Maier, D. Garabrant, B. Gillespie, J Lepkowski, C.-W. Chang, Q. Chen, B. Hong.  2008.  Residences with Anomalous Soil Concentrations of Dioxin-Like Compounds in Two Communities in Michigan, USA:  A Case Report.   Chemosphere, Accepted for Publication.

  3. 3.Garabrant, D.H., B. Hong, Q. Chen, C.-W Chang, X. Jiang, A. Franzblau, J. Lepkowski, P. Adriaens, A. Demond, E. Hedgeman, K. Knutson, T. Towey, and B. W. Gillespie.2008. Factors that Predict Serum PCB, PCDD, and PCDF Concentrations in Michigan, USA.  Epidemiology. 16(5), S265, November Supplement

  4. 4. Knutson, K., B. Hong, Q. Chen, C.-W. Chang, E. Hedgeman, T. Towey, O. Jolliet, B. W. Gillespie, A. Franzblau, J. Lepkowski, P. Adriaens, A. Demond, and D. H. Garabrant.  2008. The Relationship Between Blood Serum Dioxin Levels and Breast Feeding.  . Epidemiology. 16(5), S179, November Supplement.

  5. 5.Demond, A., P. Adriaens, T. Towey, S-C. Chang, B. Hong, Q. Chen, C.-W. Chang, A. Franzblau, D. H. Garabrant, B. W. Gillespie, E. Hedgeman, K. Knutson, S.-Y. Lee, J. Lepkowski, K. Olson, B. Ward, L. Zwica, W. Luksemburg, and M. Maier. 2008.  Statistical Comparison of Residential Soil Concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs from Two Communities in Michigan Environ. Sci. Technol. 42(15), 5441–5448.

  6. 6.Goovaerts, P. H. T. Trinh, A. Demond, A. Franzblau, D. Garabrant, B. Gillespie, J. Lepkowski, and P. Adriaens.  2008.  Geostatistical Modeling of the Spatial Distribution of Soil Dioxin in the Vicinity of an Incinerator: 1. Theory and Application.  Environ. Sci. Technol., 42(10); 3648-3654.

  7. 7.Goovaerts, P., H. T. Trinh, A. H. Demond, T. Towey, S.-C. Chang, D. Gwinn, B. Hong, A. Franzblau, D. Garabrant, B. W. Gillespie, J. Lepkowski, and P. Adriaens.  2008.  Geostatistical Modeling of the Spatial Distribution of Soil Dioxin in the Vicinity of an Incinerator: 2. Verification and Calibration.  Environ. Sci. Technol., 42(10); 3655-3661.

  8. 8.Franzblau, A.  E. Hedgeman, Q. Chen, S.-Y. Lee, P. Adriaens, A. Demond, D. Garabrant, B. Gillespie, B. Hong, O. Jolliet, J. Lepkowski, W. Luksemburg, M. Maier, and Y. Wenger.  2008. Case Report: Human Exposure to Dioxins from Clay.  Environ. Health Perspect. 116:238–242.