Dioxins & Furans
Brief Background and Use [2]
Why is it a problem? [2, 3]
Potential Human Health Effects [3]
How are Humans Exposed? [3]
Sources of Exposure Today [3]

Unintentionally produced during forms of combustion, including burning of municipal and medical wastes, backyard burning of trash, and industrial processes

Also can be found as trace contaminants in certain herbicides, wood preservatives, and PCB mixtures [8]

Dioxin refers to family of 75 toxic chemicals known as chlorinated dibenzo-para-dixoins or CDDs

Co-occur with chlorinated dibenzofurans (CDFs, or "furans")

Furans are family of 135 chemicals, many are chemically similar to dioxins

Two families often discussed as one group

Not produced for industrial purposes

Toxic products

CDDs and CDFs formed during the chlorine bleaching processes at pulp and paper mills

Released into air via emission from municipal solid waste and industrial incinerators

Can travel long distances in air

Bioaccumulants

Stable, persistent with a half-life of seven to twenty years in human body

International Agency for Research on Cancer classified 2,3,7,8 TCDD a known human carcinogen

CDDs and CDFs are endocrine disruptors

Current Status in US [3]

Under FIFRA:

Regulated as hazardous air pollutant (CAA)

Dioxin in the form of 2,3,7,88-TCDD is a priority toxic pollutant (CWA)

 

 

Furans[1]

eating contaminated fish and shellfish

infant exposed through breast milk

eating imported food exposed to DDT

eating crops grown in contaminated soil

Eating contaminated fish and shellfish

Eating milk, meat, and by-products

Infants exposed from breast milk, or through mother's bloodstream in the womb

Breathing in air in building with PCB electrical equipment

air, soil, sediments, food

incineration of municipal solid waste, medical waste

secondary copper smelting

forest fires

land application of sewage sludge

cemet kilns, residential wood burning, chlorine bleaching of wood pulp

backyard burning of household waste may too?

[1] UNEP - Persistent Organic Pollutants: Chemical Information. - www.chem.unep.ch/pops/alts02.html

[2] EPA - Persistent Organic Pollutants: A Global Issue, A Global Response. EPA 160-F-02-001. - www.epa.gov/international/toxics/pop.htm

[3] EPA Priority PBT Profiles - www.epa.gov/opptintr/pbt/cheminfo.htm

[4] ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Aldrin and Dieldrin. September 2002. - www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tpw.html

Dioxins[1]