Michigan court rejects part of dioxin suit

LANSING, Mich., July 14 (UPI) -- The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that Dow Chemical does not have to pay for medical monitoring of residents of a dioxin-contaminated area.

On Wednesday, as the high court handed down its decision, the state health department released a preliminary study that found above-average levels of dioxin in people living along the Tittabawassee River, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Dow for many years dumped dioxin in the river and released it into the air around its Midland plant. The river in southeastern Michigan runs into Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron.

The high court's ruling allows valley residents to continue to pursue a claim against Dow for lowering real estate values in the area.

Dioxin, one of the major ingredients in the defoliant Agent Orange, has been linked to cancer and fetal problems in animals.

The University of Michigan is conducting a more comprehensive study of dioxin levels in area residents.