Because of dioxin’s diffusive nature and sometimes natural occurrence, we all have some level of dioxin in our bodies. Adverse health effects from dioxin depend on these levels of exposure, age of exposure, the number of occurrences, and lengths of exposure. Dioxins are fat soluble (stored in fat cells) and are therefore long lasting in the body, they can be released slowly over extended periods of time. [1]
Chloracne is the most common effect of dioxin exposure and is usually the result of contamination events and significant (and unnatural) levels of exposure. Chloracne is an acne-like skin condition which develops a few months after swallowing, inhaling, or touching dioxins. Chloracne causes open and closed whiteheads and blackheads as well as uninflamed nodules and cysts. Chloracne lesions can take from 2 to 30 years to heal, and their persistence is due to the lipid soluble nature of dioxin which causes it to be slowly released from fat cells.
Chloracne occurs when dioxins render skin cells of the outer root sheath (the area that connects the outer and inner layers of skin) and sebaceous gland hyperplastic (meaning there is an abnormal increase in the amount of cells in this area and thus and enlargement of the area). The funnel shapped passage below is then filled with a comedone (pimple like cysts) that contain skin cells and sebum (a complex mixture of liquid lipids). [7]
Dioxin has also been found to cause diabetes, reproductive problems, and endometriosis (a medical condition in which tissue lining the uterus migrates to other parts of the body). Some studies have shown dioxin poisoning to be linked to high levels of HDL (bad) cholestorol, probably because of the way dioxin is stored and slowly released by fat cells.[5]
In addition, studies indicate that dioxins are carcinogenic (especially with regards to incidences of breast cancer); however this label is highly debated largely because evidence of dioxin’s carcinogenic nature is found in animal testing and a lack of research exists with human subjects in controled environments.[2] [3] [4]
[1]Wikipedia entry for dioxin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dioxin
[2]Dermatology website http://dermnetnz.org/acne/chloracne.html
[3]Science direct www.sciencedirect.com
[4]Wikipedia entry for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometriosis
[5] National Acadamies Press report http://books.nap.edu/books/0309071984/html/18.html#pagetop
[6] Dermatology site http://www.keratin.com/aa/aa007.shtml
[7] Science Journal http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T87-48R1YPD
[8] Dental page http://www.fluoride.org.uk/picture%20gallery/dental_fluorosis.htm
