EGLE Review of the University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study (UMDES)

The University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study (UMDES) is a large observational study intended to identify factors associated with levels of dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) in human blood serum in the Midland/Saginaw area of Michigan. The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) and others have suggested that these studies provide results that could be useful to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), and Dow in managing risks of DLC exposure in the Midland and Saginaw areas where DLCs are known to persist in soil, sediments, and biota.

EGLE requested Kern Statistical Services, Inc. (KERN) to review and evaluate the UMDES for this potential application with focus on:

• Assessing the utility and applicability of the UMDES results;
• Identifying how and in what context(s) they may be used, if appropriate; and
• Determining if modifications are necessary to improve their utility in risk management decisions.

Kern Statistical Services, Inc. completed their review and provided their response to EGLE on March 3, 2009.

• Kern Statistical Services, Inc. Review of UMDES Statistical Modeling Methods, Analysis, and Interpretation (3/3/2009) - Evaluation of additional information and analyses is ongoing in a further collaborative review with EGLE, the UMDES team and Dow to address issues raised in the March 2009, Kern Statistical Services, Inc. Review of UMDES Statistical Modeling Methods, Analysis, and Interpretation.  This collaborative review is expected to be completed during 2009.

Communications associated with the ongoing review:

• EGLE (KERN) Presentation - Meeting with UMDES and Dow (3/30/2009)
• EGLE Follow-up from Jim Sygo to UMDES (4/2/2009)
• EGLE 9/28/2004 Letter to David Garabrant- Summary of the 9/15/2004 meeting with the UMDES Team on the Protocol for the UMDES
• UMDES Letter to EGLE Director (9/25/2009)
• EGLE Response to Dr. Garabrant (10/20/2009)

***UMDES web page (Note that references or links in this Web site do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by EGLE. EGLE is not responsible for the content of any "off-site" Web page referenced from this server.)