A group of chemical compounds that share certain similar chemical structures and biological characteristics. Dioxins are present in the environment all over the world. Within animals, dioxins tend to accumulate in fat. About 95% of the average person’s exposure to dioxins occurs through consumption of food, especially food containing animal fat. Scientists and health experts are concerned about dioxins because studies have shown that exposure may cause a number of adverse health effects.
poisonous, chemical compounds.
unwanted chemical byproducts of incineration and some industrial processes that use chlorine. Dioxins can accumulate in fish and wildlife and are suspected human carcinogens.
Family of 75 different chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds formed as unwanted by-products in chemical reactions involving chlorine and hydrocarbons, usually at high temperatures.
A group of chemicals produced by both human activities, like manufacturing and waste incineration, and natural processes, like forest fires and volcanoes. Exposure to high levels of dioxins has been linked to organ damage and elevated cancer risk. A common ailment is chloracne, a severe skin disorder.
A highly toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative group of chemicals. They are highly carcinogenic and known endocrine disrupters. They are not manufactured on purpose but are produced inadvertently during the combustion of chemicals and certain substances, including PVC. They are classified as POPs.
There are 75 known varieties of dioxin. Each known variety has a unique chemical structure. These chemicals can have effects at extremely low levels. Health problems related to dioxin exposure include: some types of cancer, immune disorders, lowered sperm counts, diabetes, malformations and other reproductive and developmental effects, and endocrine disruption. The largest current sources of dioxins are industries producing chemicals, pesticides and paper products. Another suspected source are emissions from trash and toxic waste incinerators, particularly those burning plastic.
General name given to 210 organic compounds containing carbon, oxygen and hydrogen with one to eight chlorine atoms.
a family of toxins which is one of the world's most serious environmental problems. Dioxin builds up cumulatively in the body over time from birth, so heightened exposure means heightened risk. The production of dioxins in the manufacture of paper pulp products such as tampons and sanitary pads, etc are not only harmful to the environment, but also unnecessarily expose women to low levels of dioxins every time they use these products.
A group of harmful chemical compounds that are released into the air from combustion processes such as commercial or municipal waste incineration and from burning fuels such as wood, coal, or oil.
Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans are frequently referred to "dioxins and furans" or merely "dioxins." A polychlorinated dibenzodioxin is two benzene rings joined together by two oxygen atoms. A polychlorinated dibenzofuran is similar but has only one oxygen atom. Dioxins are common in the environment and can be created by internal combustion engines, incineration of medical waste or trash, manufacturing of bleached paper, wood preservatives, or even a barbecue grill.
Chemical compounds, most are not toxic. The chlorinated dioxin (chlorinated hydrocarbon) may be very toxic.
Dioxin includes a family of 75 chlorinated organic compounds that are used in herbicides, and is also created as a byproduct of various industrial and combustion processes, including papermaking, garbage incineration, and burning fossil fuels. Some dioxin compounds are known to be among the most toxic of chemicals.
A family of chlorinated chemicals, toxic under certain exposure and dosage conditions, emitted from incinerators when combustion of carbon compounds is inefficient.
A classification of chlorine-containing compounds that are considered extremely toxic carcinogenic agents. Toxic effects include anorexia, hepatotoxicity, chloracne, vascular lesions, and gastric ulcers. Dioxins are byproducts in the manufacture of some chemicals. Causes of dioxin production in combustion begin with chlorine compounds in fuel, inadequate supply of combustion air, too low refractory temperatures, and improper mixing of fuel and air.
Two families of chlorinated organic compounds that can be formed as by-products of pulp bleaching. Both can persist in the environment for many years and some forms are highly toxic. Dioxins and furans tend to accumulate in animals with high fat contents such as fish and shellfish.
Chemical byproducts created in the production of pesticides, hazardous to human health.
A family of chlorinated organic compounds, of varying degrees of toxicity, that inadvertently results from certain chemical manufacturing processes, and from the incomplete combustion of organic compounds at high temperatures.
A group of persistent, toxic chemicals, which are formed during industrial processes using chlorine. Dioxins can also occur when chlorine and organic (carbon-containing) matter are burned together.
Any of a family of compounds known chemically as dibenzo-p-dioxins. They are chemicals formed during combustion. They are extremely toxic.
Dioxins are often formed during the chlorination process at paper mills and waste and drinking water treatment plants; they are also released into the air by municipal solid waste and industrial incinerators. Dioxins accumulate in fatty tissues of animals, and have been linked to skin disease, liver damage and cancer in humans.
A group of chemicals, some of which are considered highly toxic. Chlorinated organic compounds that are an undesirable by-product of some manufacturing processes (e.g. herbicides, disinfectants, steel, bleached paper products, etc). A small proportion of dioxins in the UK (approximately 1 per cent) are also produced when compounds containing chlorine (e.g. PVC) are burnt at relatively low temperatures in waste incineration processes. As with any potential pollutant, to present a risk, a direct 'pathway' from source to receptor must exist.
Dioxins and furans are the common names for two classes of organochlorine compounds. They are formed as byproducts in chemical reactions such as the chlorine bleaching of wood pulp in the Kraft process. ()
Highly toxic chlorinated chemicals produced as by-products of incineration, or chlorine bleaching. Acute health effects include headaches and nausea. Cancers, and nerve and reproductive damage, have been reported in humans exposed at high levels.
a group of toxic organic substances, containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and chlorine, resistant to biodegradation, produced when organic material is incinerated at low temperatures.