What are Dioxins?

What are Dioxins?
Dioxins are a group of chemical compounds which share
similar chemical characteristics.

Several hundred individual dioxins exist and belong to one
of three closely related families: the chlorinated
dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs), chlorinated dibenzofurans (CDFs)
and certain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). One chemical
in the first group, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or
2,3,7,8-TCDD, has been shown to be very toxic in animal
studies and is the one most studied.

It causes effects on the skin and may cause cancer in
humans.

Dioxins are not intentionally manufactured by industry
except for research purposes. They (mainly 2,3,7,8-TCDD)
may be formed during the chlorine bleaching process at pulp
and paper mills. Dioxins are also formed during
chlorination by waste and drinking water treatment plants.
They can occur as contaminants in the manufacture of
certain organic chemicals. Dioxins are released into the
air in emissions from municipal solid waste and industrial
incinerators.

How can dioxins affect my health?

The most noted health effect in people exposed to large
amounts of 2,3,7,8-TCDD is chloracne. Chloracne is a severe
skin disease with acne-like lesions that occur mainly on
the face and upper body. Other skin effects noted in people
exposed to high doses of 2,3,7,8-TCDD include skin rashes,
discoloration, and excessive body hair. Changes in blood
and urine that may indicate liver damage also are seen in
people. Exposure to high concentrations of dioxins may
induce long-term alterations in glucose metabolism and
subtle changes in hormonal levels.

In certain animal species, 2,3,7,8-TCDD is especially
harmful and can cause death after a single exposure.
Exposure to lower levels can cause a variety of health
effects in animals, such as weight loss, liver damage, and
disruption of the endocrine system. In many species of
animals, 2,3,7,8-TCDD weakens the immune system and causes
a decrease in the system's ability to fight bacteria and
viruses. In other animal studies, exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD
has caused reproductive damage and birth defects. Some
animal species exposed to dioxins during pregnancy had
miscarriages. The offspring of animals exposed to
2,3,7,8-TCDD during pregnancy often had severe birth
defects including skeletal deformities, kidney defects, and
weakened immune responses. How likely are dioxins to cause
cancer?

Several studies suggest that exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD
increases the risk of several types of cancer in people.
Animal studies have also shown an increased risk of cancer
from exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD. The World Health
Organization (WHO) has determined that 2,3,7,8-TCDD is a
human carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer). The
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has
determined that 2,3,7,8-TCDD may reasonably be anticipated
to cause cancer. How can dioxins affect children?

Very few studies have looked at the effects of dioxins on
children. Chloracne has been seen in children exposed to
high levels of dioxins. It is unknown whether dioxins
affect the ability of people to have children or if it
causes birth defects, but given the effects observed in
animal studies, this cannot be ruled out. How can families
reduce the risk of exposure to dioxins?

Children should avoid playing in soils near uncontrolled
hazardous waste sites. Children should be discouraged from
eating dirt or putting toys or other objects in their
mouths. Everyone should wash hands frequently if playing or
working near uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. For new
mothers and young children, restrict eating foods from the
proximity of uncontrolled sites with known dioxins. Is
there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to
dioxins?

Tests are available to measure CDD levels in body fat,
blood, and breast milk, but these tests are not routinely
available. Most people have low levels of dioxins in their
body fat and blood, and levels considerably above these
levels indicate past exposure to above-normal levels of
2,3,7,8-TCDD. Although dioxins stay in body fat for a long
time, tests cannot be used to determine when exposure to
the dioxin occurred. Has the federal government made
recommendations to protect human health from dioxin
exposure?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a limit
of 0.00003 micrograms of 2,3,7,8-TCDD per liter of drinking
water (0.00003 µg/L). Discharges, spills, or accidental
releases of 1 pound or more of 2,3,7,8-TCDD must be
reported to EPA. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
recommends against eating fish and shellfish with levels of
2,3,7,8-TCDD greater than 50 parts per trillion (50 ppt).

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