Glossary of Dioxin Terms

SGS Dioxin Group has listed a number of dioxin terms which are commonly used in our services.

EDL
Estimated Detection Limit

EMPC
Estimated Maximum Possible Concentration.

OPR
Ongoing Precision and Recovery Sample. A spiked blank used to monitor  laboratory performance.

PCDD
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins: refers to the methods’ full dioxin analyte list.

PCDF
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans: refers to the methods’ full furan analyte list.

PPT
Parts-per-trillion. (ng/L; pg/g)

TCDD
Tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins. Sometimes refers only to 2,3,7,8-TCDD.

TEF
Toxic Equivalency Factor. Values assigned to each 2,3,7,8-substituted dioxin and furan to approximate their toxicity in relation to 2,3,7,8-TCDD. (Some PCB congeners also have TEFs associated with them.)

TEQ
Toxic Equivalency Quotient. The total of each 2,3,7,8-substituted dioxin and furan multiplied by its corresponding TEF. The TEQ is used to assess a sample’s toxicity by expressing the results of all dioxins and furans detected as 2,3,7,8-TCDD.