U.S. health body decides to release Great Lakes study

Under pressure from the United States Congress, the American government has released a draft report on pollution in eight states abutting the Great Lakes.

The report, written by scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suggests pollution in some counties is causing health problems.

However, saying some of the research methods used to prepare the report were weak, CDC administrators have asked for a review by an independent scientific advisory organization, the Institute of Medicine.

Officials at the CDC say they released the draft report on Wednesday only to address accusations of a cover-up.

The study, Public Health Implications of Hazardous Substances in 26 U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern, was scheduled to have been released by the CDC in July 2007.

Critics raised questions after its release was delayed and portions of the study were leaked suggesting that people living in cities such as Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit face higher rates of lung, breast and colon cancer.

Researchers also found low birth weights and high infant mortality in some Great Lake areas.

In February, some Canadian scientists told CBC News that the study's findings could be of relevance for Canadians living near the Great Lakes as well.

"When you have persistent toxic substances, like the organic chlorine chemicals such as DDT and dioxins and PCBs, the essential aspect is the chemicals," biologist Mike Gilbertson said. "The Great Lakes are not static."