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Dioxins
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Dioxins are environmental pollutants that concern everybody. More information below about its content, formation and adverse effect on health.
Dioxins consist of 210 compounds, including the PolyChlorinated DibenzoDioxins (PCDD’s) and the PolyChlorinated DibenzoFurans (PCDF’s) of which 17 are most recognized and regulated. Dioxins are not intentionally manufactured and are formed as a by-product in chemical processes and in combustion processes, especially in the case where these are not under control. As the dioxins are unintentionally formed, they have to be determined among other very similar compounds at very low levels - parts per trillion (ppt) or parts per quadrillion (ppq). These levels are about 1, 000, 000 times lower in concentration compared to the normal level of other environmental constituents reporting range’s. Alongside environmental contamination, a lot of attention has arisen for these compounds in the food chain due to some dioxin contaminations in the food chain. The dioxin crisis in Belgium in 1999, originating of mixing PCB oil with used frying oil for final use in animal feeds, was the basis of establishing some regulations with respect to dioxins in feed/food in Europe. The regulated levels are very low and the matrices in which they have to be determined are quite complex in comparison to some environmental matrices. What are Chlorinated dioxins and furans? Chlorinated Dioxins/Furans are persistent organic pollutants or POP’s, and are often some of the most scrutinized environmental contaminants regulated in the environment. The carcinogenic characteristics of these compounds, and the attention they get by the public through crises and accidents, brings awareness around the globe in terms of health concern, and actions to be taken to prevent their release in the environment. Dioxins are formed as a by-product of chemical manufacturing. While the purpose of chemical manufacturing is to rearrange atoms and to make new molecules, there is some atomic matter that is not used and thus becomes waste. The process of making a chemical reaction is to separate and to change matter. It requires one to introduce a catalyst and/or change temperature, pressure, etcetera. In doing this, it is possible to transform molecules; however, there are some molecules that resist transformation and become unwanted waste, also called toxic waste. In an effort to rid themselves of the toxic waste, many companies rely on incinerating the waste. The by-product of incineration is a common source of dioxin. Over 90% of a human’s intake of dioxins is through their normal diet. Dairy products, meat, poultry, eggs, fish and animal fats tend to have the highest concentrations of dioxin levels. In 1997, an EPA study about dioxins contained in food revealed that samples of poultry meat were found to have high levels of dioxin content. This led to further investigation which found that certain ball clays, which is an anti-caking agent used in animal feed in the US, were contaminated with dioxins. Since then, the use of this product has been eliminated in animal feeds. Similar findings occurred in 1998 when citrus pulp fed to animals in Europe was found to contain high levels of dioxins and again, in 1999, when 3,000 Belgian poultry, beef and pig farms may have used contaminated animal feed. During this time, more than 30 countries, including the United States, banned the import of foods from Belgium. Some studies have found that the effects of dioxins can exist in humans 30 years after the date of contamination and cause health problems that range from genetic defects, diabetes, non-Hoddkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, soft-tissue sarcoma, spina bifida in children of those exposed, cancer, endocrine problems related to sexual development, damage to the development of the immune system, as well as increased susceptibility to many infectious diseases. |
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