Dioxin
A group of chemicals related to chlorine and benzene are called Dioxins. Federal government classifies them as Carcinogenic compound. Chemical compounds of dioxins share a similar biological characteristics and chemical structures. There are hundreds of toxic compounds and each one is the member of three close related families. A chemical in the first group 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenp-dioxin or 2, 3, 7 8, TCDD is one of the most studied and highly toxic chemical as found in animal studies. It may lead to cancer in human beings and may affect their skin.
Dioxin – An Insight
A group of chemicals related to chlorine and benzene are called Dioxins. Federal government classifies them as Carcinogenic compound. Everybody is exposed to dioxins because it is found in small quantity in most of the consumer products. The population consuming food containing animal fats is at the highest risk as dioxins are fat-soluble. People working in waste incineration, herbicide or paper manufacturing are at the risk of occupational exposure. Vietnamese civilians and Vietnam War Veterans exposed to Agent Orange are also thought to have hazardous effects of dioxins. The diseases caused by exposure to dioxin include cancer, skin disease called Chloracne, respiratory damage, birth defects, diabetes and immune damage.
Chemical compounds of dioxins share a similar biological characteristics and chemical structures. There are hundreds of toxic compounds and each one is the member of three close related families. These families are chlorinated dibenzofurans (CDF’s), chlorinated dibenzo-p –dioxins (CDDs) and certain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Dioxins are crystal or colorless solid in their pure form.
Infamous military defoliant Agent Orange contained dioxins. A chemical dusted or sprayed on plants to cause the leaves to fall off is known as defoliant. Agent Orange used in Vietnam War caused diseases like spin bifida, leukemia, diabetes, lung diseases including other diseases in Vietnam War Veterans and their children.
Effects of Dioxin Exposure
Dioxins are released into the air from combustion process such as municipal waste or commercial incineration and from burning fuels like coal, wood or oil. Small amount of dioxins are also present in cigarette and the simplest process of burning trash releases such toxic compounds. Certain types of chemical processing and manufacturing, chlorine bleaching of pulp and paper and some industrial process can also create dioxin.
On releasing them into air, some dioxins are transported to long distances. When dioxins are released into water, some of them either evaporates into the air or are broke down by sunlight. However in most of the cases, dioxins attach to the soil and settles at the bottom sediment in water. There are chances that dioxins may build up in the food chain and thus affecting the animals.
General population consumes more than 90 per cent of the dioxins through dairy products, meat and fish. The rest of the dioxin exposure includes the following:
Contact of skin with pesticide and herbicides
Inhaling dioxin present in the air
Drinking dioxin present in water
Residing near hazardous waste site containing incinerators or dioxins
Occupational; exposure by working in industries involved in the production of pesticides containing dioxins.
Working at pulp and paper mills.
Dioxin Exposure- Injurious to Health
Dioxin Exposure may lead to various hazardous health diseases depending on many factors including the time when exposure occurred, level of exposure and the frequency at which the exposure occurred. The people who are exposed to dioxins regularly suffer from severe skin disease called Chloracne. In this disease, a person develops acne like sores on face and upper part of the body. Skin discoloration, skin rashes, liver damage and excessive body hair are few other effects of dioxin exposure. According to certain studies, prolonged exposure to dioxin increases the risk of cancer in person.