Introduction to Chemical By-Products

There are specific chemical byproducts including: dioxins, furans, and some PCBs which are formed unintentionally through the combustion process. Municipal and medical waste incinerators, burning trash outside, and some industrial processes are the largest sources of combustion caused byproducts. Often “dioxins” is used as the overarching term for all three, meaning dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs), chlorinated dibenzofurans (CDFs), and some polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). As there are few differences in between the three and PCBs (both dioxin and non-dioxin type PCBs) are discussed in their own link (the industrial chemical link to the left), this webpage will use the term “dioxins” to mainly refer to the CDDs division of which the most well known and toxic dioxin (TCDD) is a member.

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