chemical information
CAS RN:
1746-01-6
Chemical Class:
Chemical SubClass
Manufacturing/Use Status
this chemical is not intentionally produced, it is a byproduct of another application
Found in these people:
Anonymous Adult 1, Monique Harden, U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, Andrea Martin, Michael Lerner, Lexi Rome, Charlotte Brody, Davis Baltz, Sharyle Patton
Found in these locations:
New Orleans, LA; Upstate New York, NY; Sausalito, CA; Bolinas, CA; Mill Valley, CA; Round Hill, VA; Berkeley, CA
Summary
Laboratory animals. Dioxins cause toxicity to many organ systems in animals. Effects include liver and thyroid tumors; cardiovascular, skeletal, skin, immune, respiratory, neurological and reproductive toxicity; altered lipid and carbohydrate metabolism; reduced fertility and birth defects. Specific birth defects include reproductive tract and skeletal abnormalities, such as cleft palate (ATSDR 1998a). Dioxins are endocrine disruptors because they alter thyroid, reproductive, and adrenal hormone levels and function (ATSDR 1998a). Many of the lowest dose effects are developmental. For example, a one-time exposure to dioxin during fetal life can impair prostate development in male rats (Roman and Peterson 1998, Roman, et al. 1998, Timms, et al. 2002).
Humans. The effects of dioxins have been studied in humans who were exposed through diet, work, military service and industrial accidents. Dioxin (TCDD) is a known human carcinogen. It is associated with increased incidence of cancer in general and with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and lung and soft-tissue cancer in particular (ATSDR 1998a, NTP 2002). Soft tissue includes muscle, fat, blood vessels or any of the other tissues that support, surround and protect organs of the body. Dioxin is also associated with non-cancer disorders including skin lesions (chloracne), and nervous system toxicity (ATSDR 1998a). Associations with other types of disorders are emerging. For example, recent follow-up of people exposed to an industrial explosion in Seveso, Italy (the highest known population exposure to TCDD) suggest that dioxin may also be associated with breast cancer (Warner, et al. 2002), menstrual irregularities (Eskenazi, et al. 2002), altered thyroid function, and diabetes (Kogevinas 2001). Risk of developing diabetes or glucose intolerance is also increased in military personnel who were exposed to dioxin-contaminated herbicide (Agent Orange) in the Vietnam War (Longnecker, et al. 2001). Although developmental effects of dioxin have not been adequately studied in humans, several studies have linked dioxin to altered sex ratio (in favor of females) (Mocarelli, et al. 2000).
2,3,7,8-TCDD (tetradioxin)
In dioxin family of chemicals - pollutants from PVC production, industrial bleaching, incineration; cause cancer, may harm hormone system.
2,3,7,8-TCDD (tetradioxin) has been found in 11 of the 34 people tested in EWG/Commonweal studies.
Top health concerns for 2,3,7,8-TCDD (tetradioxin) (References)
| health concern or target organ | weight of evidence |
| Cancer | strong |
| Immune system (including sensitization and allergies) | limited |
| Birth defects and developmental delays | unknown |
Other health concerns for 2,3,7,8-TCDD (tetradioxin) (References)
| health concern or target organ | weight of evidence |
| Persistent, accumulates in wildlife and/or people | probable |
| Cardiovascular system | limited |
| Hematologic (blood) system | limited |
| Endocrine system | known |
| Skin | limited |
| Sense organs | limited |
| Gastrointestinal (including liver) | limited |
| Kidney and renal system | limited |
| Reproduction and fertility | limited |
Violations, restrictions, and warnings for 2,3,7,8-TCDD (tetradioxin) (References)
Unsafe for use in cosmetics, Canada
Other relevant risk considerations for 2,3,7,8-TCDD (tetradioxin) (References)
Wildlife and environmental toxicity
Results for 2,3,7,8-TCDD (tetradioxin)
in blood serum (lipid weight)
Showing results from EWG/Commonweal Study #1, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults, Minority Cord Blood, EWG/Commonweal Study #4, industrial chemicals and pesticides in cord blood, EWG Study #3, industrial chemicals and pesticides in adults, San Francisco Reporter
EWG/Commonweal results
- geometric mean: 1.58 pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum
- found in 11 of 34 people in the group
| 0 | pg/g (lipid weight) in blood serum | 7.12 |
 | ||
2,3,7,8-TCDD (tetradioxin) results
Detailed toxicity classifications (References)
| classification | governing entity/references |
| Assoc of Occupational and Environmental Clinics - Asthmagens | |
| Prohibited from use in Canadian cosmetics | Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist |
| Priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act | EPA Water Quality Standards Database |
| Hazardous air pollutant under Clean Air Act | EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants |
| IARC Group 1: carcinogenic to humans (International Agency for Research on Carcinogens) | Inter'l Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Carcinogens |
| Known human carcinogen (National Toxicology Program classification) | NTP Report on Carcinogens, 11th Edition |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant under Canada's Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics program - targeted for elimination or reduction | EC (Environment Canada). 1994. Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxics (ARET). ARET substance list of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals. |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Great Lakes Binational Strategy, Tier 1 concern (highest), targeted for phase-out | Great Lakes BTS (Binational Toxics Strategy). 1997. Canada-United States Strategy for the Virtual Elimination of Persistent Toxic Substances in the Great Lakes. Appendix I - Level 1 and Level 2 substances. |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Oslo-Paris (OSPAR) Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, chemical of concern | OSPAR (2002). OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR List of Substances of Possible Concern. Secondary OSPAR. Place Published, OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environement of North-East Atlanic. |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, priority chemical for voluntary waste/emission reductions | EPA Waste Minimization Program (RCRA) (1998) |
| Persistent, bioaccumulative toxicant - targeted for emission reductions and process controls under international treaty (Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, or POPs Convention) | United Nations Environment Programme/POPs Treaty (2001) |
| Very persistent and bioaccumulative toxicant - targeted for waste reporting under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs | EPA Toxic Release Inventory (1999) |
| Limited evidence in humans - immune system toxicity | ATSDR (1998). Toxicological profile for chlorinated dibenzo-o-dioxins (CDDs): Health effects chapter. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp104.html |
| Birth defects - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed | ATSDR (1998). Toxicological profile for chlorinated dibenzo-o-dioxins (CDDs): Health effects chapter. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp104.html |
| Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards: suspected | ATSDR, EPA-HEN, LADO, OEHHA-CREL, RTECS |
| Immunotoxicity hazards: suspected | ATSDR, NAP |
| Endocrine toxicity hazards: suspected | BKH, BRUC, IL-EPA, JNIHS, KEIT, OEHHA-CREL, RTECS, WWF |
| Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards: suspected | EPA-HEN, HAZMAP, KLAA, RTECS |
| Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards: suspected | EPA-HEN, LADO, OEHHA-CREL, RTECS, ZIMM |
| Kidney toxicity hazards: suspected | MERCK, RTECS |
| Reproductive toxicity hazards: suspected | OEHHA-CREL |
| Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected | OEHHA-CREL, RTECS |
| Developmental toxicity hazards: recognized | P65 |
| Cancer hazards: recognized | P65 |
