chemical Class

Chlorinated dioxins & furans


Chemicals in the class:

1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDD (octadioxin), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-OCDF (octafuran), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD (heptadioxin), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF (heptafuran), 1,2,3,4,7,8,9-HpCDF (heptafuran), 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF (hexafuran), 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF (hexafuran), 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD (hexadioxin), 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF (hexafuran), 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD (pentadioxin), 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF (pentafuran), 2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF (hexafuran), 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF (pentafuran), 2,3,7,8-TCDD (tetradioxin), 2,3,7,8-TCDF (tetrafuran)

Found in these people:

Andrea Martin, Bill Moyers, Davis Baltz, Lucy Waletsky, Michael Lerner, Sharyle Patton, Lexi Rome, Monique Harden, Charlotte Brody, Baby #1, Baby #2, Baby #3, Baby #4, Baby #5, Baby #6, Baby #7, Baby #8, Baby #9, Baby #10, Anonymous Adult 1, Kathy Fowler, U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter, Cord Blood Sample 11, Cord Blood Sample 12, Cord Blood Sample 13, Cord Blood Sample 14, Cord Blood Sample 15, Cord Blood Sample 16, Cord Blood Sample 17, Cord Blood Sample 18, Cord Blood Sample 19, Cord Blood Sample 20

Found in these locations:

Sausalito, CA; NJ, USA; Berkeley, CA; Pleasantville, NY; Bolinas, CA; Mill Valley, CA; New Orleans, LA; Round Hill, VA; Rockville, MD; Upstate New York, NY


Summary

Chlorinated dioxins and furans are unwanted byproducts of the manufacture and burning of products that contain chlorine. Dioxins cause cancer in humans, and they are generally considered to be among the most toxic environmental contaminants known to man.

As a class, dioxins are extremely toxic, persistent, bioaccumulative, and lipophilic ("fat-loving"). This means that dioxins build up and are stored in fatty tissues and fluids, such as breast milk, and can be passed on to fetuses and infants during pregnancy and lactation. Most people are exposed to dioxin through the food they eat, primarily from meat, dairy, fish and eggs.

In humans, dioxins are associated with cancer, skin lesions, damage to the nervous system and immune system, altered carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, thyroid disruption, altered menstrual cycling, and cardiovascular effects. In laboratory animals, dioxins are known to cause a variety of effects including cancer and impaired reproductive, endocrine, cardiovascular, immune, respiratory, neurological and metabolic function. In addition, dioxins cause skin disease and birth defects. (ATSDR 1998, Eskenazi, et al. 2002, Longnecker, et al. 2001, NTP 2002, Kogevinas 2001, Mocarelli, et al. 2000, Roman and Peterson 1998, Warner, et al. 2002)


Chlorinated dioxins & furans

Chlorinated dioxins and furans are unwanted byproducts of the manufacture and burning of products that contain chlorine. Dioxins cause cancer in humans, are persistent and bioaccumulative, and are generally considered to be among the most toxic environmental contaminants known to man.

Chlorinated dioxins & furans has been found in 34 of the 34 people tested in EWG/Commonweal studies.

Top health concerns for Chlorinated dioxins & furans (References)

health concern or target organ weight of evidence
Immune system (including sensitization and allergies)limited
Birth defects and developmental delaysunknown

Toxicity Classifications (References)

classification governing entity/references
Birth defects - weight of evidence unknown/unassessedATSDR (1998). Toxicological profile for chlorinated dibenzo-o-dioxins (CDDs): Health effects chapter. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp104.html
Limited evidence in humans - immune system toxicityATSDR (1998). Toxicological profile for chlorinated dibenzo-o-dioxins (CDDs): Health effects chapter. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp104.html