KIEV, Nov. 22 ??“ The level of dioxin, a toxic chemical, in the blood of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko fell by 83% over the past 12 months, according to latest test data revealed on Tuesday.

The level is still 1,000 times greater than normal, according to tests taken Nov. 9, Iryna Herashchenko, Yushchenko??™s spokeswoman, said. A year ago, when Yushchenko was first diagnosed with dioxin poisoning, the level was reported at 6,000 times the norm.