View source for Chemistry:Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds

{{Short description|Class of chemical compounds}}
'''Dioxins''' and '''dioxin-like compounds''' ('''DLCs''') are a group of [[Chemistry:Chemical compound|chemical compound]]s that are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment. They are mostly by-products of burning or various industrial processes or, in the case of dioxin-like [[Chemistry:Polychlorinated biphenyl|PCBs]] and [[Chemistry:Polybrominated biphenyl|PBBs]], unwanted minor components of intentionally produced mixtures.<ref name=Tuomisto2019>{{cite journal |last=Tuomisto |first= Jouko |year=2019 |title=Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds: toxicity in humans and animals, sources, and behaviour in the environment. |journal=WikiJournal of Medicine |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=8 |issn=2002-4436 |doi=10.15347/wjm/2019.008|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=dangers>{{cite web |url=http://en.opasnet.org/w/Are_the_dioxins_the_most_dangerous_chemicals_in_our_environment%3F |title=Are the dioxins the most dangerous chemicals in our environment? |work=opasnet.org}}</ref>

Some of them are highly toxic, but the toxicity among them varies 30,000-fold. They are grouped together because their mechanism of action is the same. They activate the [[Biology:Aryl hydrocarbon receptor|aryl hydrocarbon receptor]] (AH receptor), albeit with very different binding affinities, leading to high differences in toxicity and other effects. They include:<ref name=Tuomisto2019/><ref name=synopsis>[https://www.julkari.fi/handle/10024/80313 Synopsis on dioxins and PCBs]</ref><ref name=Pohja/>
* [[Chemistry:Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins|Polychlorinated dibenzo''-p-''dioxins]] (PCDDs), or simply dioxins. PCDDs are derivatives of dibenzo''-p-''dioxin. There are 75 PCDD [[Chemistry:Congener|congeners]], differing in the number and location of chlorine atoms, and 7 of them are specifically toxic, the most toxic being [[Chemistry:2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin|2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin]] (TCDD).
* [[Chemistry:Polychlorinated dibenzofurans|Polychlorinated dibenzofurans]] (PCDFs), or [[Chemistry:Furan|furan]]s. PCDFs are derivatives of [[Chemistry:Dibenzofuran|dibenzofuran]]. There are 135 isomers; 10 have dioxin-like properties.
* [[Chemistry:Polychlorinated biphenyl|Polychlorinated biphenyl]]s (PCBs), derived from [[Chemistry:Biphenyl|biphenyl]], of which 12 are "dioxin-like".  Under certain conditions PCBs may form dibenzofurans through partial oxidation.
* [[Chemistry:Polybrominated biphenyl|Polybrominated]] analogs of the above classes may have similar effects.
* "Dioxin" can also refer to 1,4-dioxin or ''p-''dioxin, the basic chemical unit of the more complex dioxins. This simple compound is not persistent and has no PCDD-like toxicity.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="75">
File:PCDD general structure.png|[[Chemistry:Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins|Polychlorinated dibenzo''-p-''dioxins]]
File:PCDF general structure.svg|[[Chemistry:Polychlorinated dibenzofurans|Polychlorinated dibenzofurans]]
File:PCB structure general.svg|[[Chemistry:Polychlorinated biphenyl|Polychlorinated biphenyl]]s
File:1,4-Dioxin.svg|1,4-dioxin
</gallery>

Dioxins have different toxicity depending on the number and position of the [[Chemistry:Chlorine|chlorine]] atoms. Because dioxins refer to such a broad class of compounds that vary widely in toxicity, the concept of [[Physics:Toxic equivalency factor|toxic equivalency factor]] (TEF) has been developed to facilitate risk assessment and regulatory control.  TEFs exist for seven [[Chemistry:Congener|congener]]s of dioxins, ten furans and twelve PCBs.  The reference congener is the most toxic dioxin TCDD which per definition has a TEF of one.<ref name=Berg>{{cite journal |vauthors=Van den Berg M, Birnbaum LS, Denison M, De Vito M, Farland W, Feeley M, Fiedler H, Hakansson H, Hanberg A, Haws L, Rose M, Safe S, Schrenk D, Tohyama C, Tritscher A, Tuomisto J, Tysklind M, Walker N, Peterson RE |display-authors=6 |title=The 2005 World Health Organization reevaluation of human and Mammalian toxic equivalency factors for dioxins and dioxin-like compounds |journal=Toxicological Sciences |volume=93 |issue=2 |pages=223–241 |date=October 2006 |pmid=16829543 |pmc=2290740 |doi=10.1093/toxsci/kfl055}}</ref> In essence, multiplying the amount of a particular congener with its TEF produces the amount toxicologically equivalent to TCDD, and after this conversion all dioxin-like congeners can be summed up, and the resulting toxicity equivalent quantity (TEQ) gives an approximation of toxicity of the mixture measured as TCDD.

Dioxins are virtually insoluble in water but have a relatively high solubility in [[Chemistry:Lipid|lipid]]s. Therefore, they tend to associate with organic matter such as plankton, plant leaves, and animal fat. In addition, they tend to be adsorbed to inorganic particles, such as ash and soil.<ref>Weber R, Gaus C, Tysklind M, Johnston P, Forter M, Hollert H, Heinisch E, Holoubek I, Lloyd-Smith M, Masunaga S, Moccarelli P, Santillo D, Seike N, Symons R, Torres JP, Verta M, Varbelow G, Vijgen J, Watson A, Costner P, Woelz J, Wycisk P, Zennegg M (2008) Dioxin- and POP-contaminated sites--contemporary and future relevance and challenges: overview on background, aims and scope of the series. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. Jul;15(5):363–393. {{doi|10.1007/s11356-008-0024-1}}. Epub 2008 Jul 3.</ref>

Dioxins are extremely stable and consequently tend to accumulate in the food chain. They are eliminated very slowly in animals, e.g. TCDD has a [[Biology:Biological half-life|half-life]] of 7 to 9 years in humans.<ref name=Pohja/><ref name="RefD">{{cite report |url=https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp104-c1-b.pdf |author=Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) |title=Public health statement chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs) |date=1998 |location=Atlanta, GA |publisher=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service |access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref><ref name="RefE">{{cite journal |vauthors=Xu J, Ye Y, Huang F, Chen H, Wu H, Huang J, Hu J, Xia D, Wu Y |display-authors=6 |title=Association between dioxin and cancer incidence and mortality: a meta-analysis |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=6 |pages=38012 |date=November 2016 |pmid=27897234 |pmc=5126552 |doi=10.1038/srep38012 |bibcode=2016NatSR...638012X}}</ref> Incidents of contamination with PCBs are often reported as dioxin contamination incidents since these are of most public and regulatory concern.<ref name=Weber08>{{cite journal |vauthors=Weber R, Tysklind M, Gaus C |title=Dioxin--contemporary and future challenges of historical legacies. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Otto Hutzinger, the founder of the DIOXIN Conference Series |journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research International |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=96–100 |date=March 2008 |pmid=18380226 |doi=10.1065/espr2008.01.473 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=Tuomisto2019/>

Dioxins are a group of chemically related compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants. Dioxins are found throughout the world in the environment, and they accumulate in the food chain, mainly in the fatty tissue of animals. Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the nervous and immune systems, interfere with hormones, and also cause cancer. Owing to the highly toxic potential of dioxins, efforts need to be undertaken to reduce current background exposure. In these regards, prevention or reduction of human exposure and a strict control of industrial processes to reduce formation of dioxins are warranted.

==Chemistry==

There are 75 possible congeners of polychlorinated dibenzo''-p-''dioxins, but only 7 of them have affinity for the [[Biology:Aryl hydrocarbon receptor|aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AH receptor)]] and are toxic via this mechanism. The crucial structures are so called lateral chlorines in positions 2,3,7, and 8. These 4 chlorines also make the congeners persistent, because they prevent microbial degradation. Additional chlorines make the compounds less potent, but basically the effects remain the same although at higher doses. There are 135 possible dibenzofurans, and 10 in which the lateral chlorines are dioxin-like.<ref name=Berg/>

[[File:Structures of dibenzo-p-dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofurane.svg|thumb|Critical structures of PCDD/Fs.]]

There are 209 PCB compounds. Analogously to PCDDs at least two lateral chlorines in each ring in positions 3,4, and/or 5 are needed for dioxin-like activity. Because the AH receptor requires a planar (flat) structure, only PCB congeners that can rotate freely along the C—C axis between the rings can attach the receptor. Substituents in ortho-positions 2 and 6 prevent rotation and thus hinder the molecule from assuming a planar position. Mono-ortho congeners (one Cl in 2, 2', 6, or 6') have minimal activity. No significant dioxin-like activities have been noticed, if there are two or more o-chlorines.<ref name=Berg/> Brominated dioxins and biphenyls have similar properties, but they have been studied much less.<ref name=Berg/>

[[File:Structures of biphenyl and 3,3’,4,4’,5-pentachlorobiphenyl.svg|thumb|Structures of biphenyl and 3,3’,4,4’,5-pentachlorobiphenyl]]

Many natural compounds have very high affinity to AH receptors. These include indoles, flavones, benzoflavones, imidazoles and pyridines.<ref name=Denison03>{{cite journal |vauthors=Denison MS, Nagy SR |title=Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor by structurally diverse exogenous and endogenous chemicals |journal=Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology |volume=43 |pages=309–334 |date=2003 |pmid=12540743 |doi=10.1146/annurev.pharmtox.43.100901.135828}}</ref><ref name=Tuomisto2019/> These compounds are metabolized rapidly, but continuous intake from food may cause similar receptor activation as the background levels of dioxins.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Connor KT, Harris MA, Edwards MR, Budinsky RA, Clark GC, Chu AC, Finley BL, Rowlands JC |display-authors=6 |title=AH receptor agonist activity in human blood measured with a cell-based bioassay: evidence for naturally occurring AH receptor ligands in vivo |journal=Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology |volume=18 |issue=4 |pages=369–380 |date=July 2008 |pmid=17912254 |doi=10.1038/sj.jes.7500607 |doi-access=free}}</ref> They do not reach concentrations causing typical dioxin-like toxicity, however.

==Mechanism of action==
[[File:AHR pathways in cell.jpg|thumb|400px|A schematic diagram of some AHR signaling pathways. The canonical pathway is depicted with solid black arrows, alternative pathways with dashed arrows, and an intersection of these two with a solid red arrow. The green bars represent the AHR, red bars ARNT, yellow bars ARA9 (AIP, Xap2), blue bars HSP90 and the blue ovals p23. Dioxin binding to the AHR (1.) leads to its translocation into the nucleus by importin-β, (2.) heterodimerization with ARNT and binding to the DNA at DREs, (3.) modulating expression levels of target genes (green arrows). One of the gene products elevated by this mechanism is AHRR, a repressor protein which forms a feedback loop that inhibits AHR action. The AHR is finally degraded by the ubiquitin–proteasome system (4.). AHR activation can also rapidly increase intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration (5.) which in turn may ultimately result in augmented Cox2 gene expression. Elevation of Ca<sup>2+</sup> activates CaMKs, which appear to have a critical role in the translocation of the AHR. Another example of effects mediated by the AHR via non-canonical pathways is suppression of acute-phase proteins (6.) which does not involve DNA binding. ''(simplified and modified from Lindén et al.)''<ref name=Linden>{{cite journal |vauthors=Lindén J, Lensu S, Tuomisto J, Pohjanvirta R |title=Dioxins, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and the central regulation of energy balance |journal=Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology |volume=31 |issue=4 |pages=452–478 |date=October 2010 |pmid=20624415 |doi=10.1016/j.yfrne.2010.07.002|s2cid=34036181 }}</ref>]]

The [[Biology:Aryl hydrocarbon receptor|AH receptor]] is an ancient receptor, and its many functions have been revealed only recently.<ref name=Pohjanvirta12>{{cite book |editor1-last=Pohjanvirta |editor1-first=Raimo |title=The AH Receptor in Biology and Toxicology |date=2011 |publisher=Wiley |language=en |doi=10.1002/9781118140574 |isbn=9781118140574}}</ref><ref name=Hahn>Hahn, Mark E.; Karchner, Sibel I. (2011). "Structural and Functional Diversification of AHRs during Metazoan Evolution". The AH Receptor in Biology and Toxicology. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. pp. 387–403. {{ISBN|9781118140574}}</ref><ref>Bock, KW (1 April 2017). "Human and rodent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR): from mediator of dioxin toxicity to physiologic AHR functions and therapeutic options." Biological chemistry 398 (4): 455–464. {{doi|10.1515/hsz-2016-0303}}</ref> It is an over 600 million year old protein occurring in all vertebrates, and its [[Biology:Homology|homologs]] have been discovered in invertebrates and insects. It belongs to [[Biology:Basic helix–loop–helix|basic Helix–Loop–Helix]]-PAS proteins and acts as a transcription factor modifying transcription of a number of genes (see figure).<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Poellinger L |title=Mechanistic aspects – the dioxin (aryl hydrocarbon) receptor |journal=Food Additives and Contaminants |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=261–266 |date=April 2000 |pmid=10912240 |doi=10.1080/026520300283333|s2cid=22295283 }}</ref><ref name=Linden/> AH receptor activity is necessary for normal development and many physiological functions. Mice lacking the AH receptor (knockouts) are sick with cardiac hypertrophy, liver fibrosis, reproductive problems, and impaired immunology.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/>

The AH receptor is relevant in toxicology for two very different reasons. First, it induces several enzymes important in the metabolism of foreign substances, so called [[Biology:Xenobiotic|xenobiotic]]s. These include both oxidative phase I enzymes and conjugative phase II enzymes, e.g. [[Biology:Cytochrome P450|CYP]]1A2, CYP1B1, CYP2S1, CYP2A5, ALDH3, GSTA1, UGT1A1, UGT1A6, UGT1A7 and NQO1.<ref name=Okey>{{cite journal |vauthors=Okey AB |title=An aryl hydrocarbon receptor odyssey to the shores of toxicology: the Deichmann Lecture, International Congress of Toxicology-XI |journal=Toxicological Sciences |volume=98 |issue=1 |pages=5–38 |date=July 2007 |pmid=17569696 |doi=10.1093/toxsci/kfm096 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/894712 |doi-access=free}}</ref> This is in essence a protective function preventing toxic or carcinogenic effects of xenobiotics, but in some conditions it may also result in the production of reactive metabolites that are mutagenic and carcinogenic. This enzyme induction can be initiated by many natural or synthetic compounds, e.g., carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons such as [[Chemistry:Benzo(a)pyrene|benzo''(a)''pyrene]],<ref name=Okey/> several natural compounds,<ref name=Denison03/> and dioxins.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> Secondly, AH receptors are involved in the activation or silencing of genes that lead to the toxic effects of high doses of dioxins.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> Because TCDD at high doses can influence the transcription of perhaps hundreds of genes, the genes crucial for the multitude of toxic effects of dioxins are still not known very well.<ref name=Tijet>{{cite journal |vauthors=Tijet N, Boutros PC, Moffat ID, Okey AB, Tuomisto J, Pohjanvirta R |title=Aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulates distinct dioxin-dependent and dioxin-independent gene batteries |journal=Molecular Pharmacology |volume=69 |issue=1 |pages=140–153 |date=January 2006 |pmid=16214954 |doi=10.1124/mol.105.018705|s2cid=1913812 }}</ref>

Binding of dioxin-like compounds to the AH receptor has made it possible to measure total dioxin-like activity of a sample using [[Biology:CALUX|CALUX]] (Chemical Activated LUciferase gene eXpression) bioassay. The results have been comparable to TEQ levels measured by much more expensive gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry in environmental samples.<ref name="pmid17626436">{{cite journal |vauthors=Brown DJ, Orelien J, Gordon JD, Chu AC, Chu MD, Nakamura M, Handa H, Kayama F, Denison MS, Clark GC |title=Mathematical model developed for environmental samples: prediction of GC/MS dioxin TEQ from XDS-CALUX bioassay data |journal=Environmental Science & Technology |volume=41 |issue=12 |pages=4354–4360 |date=June 2007 |pmid=17626436 |pmc=2877589 |doi=10.1021/es062602+ |bibcode=2007EnST...41.4354B}}</ref>

==Toxicity==

Dioxin toxicity is based on inappropriate activation of a physiologically important receptor, and therefore dose-response must be carefully considered.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> Inappropriate stimulation of many receptors leads to toxic outcomes, e.g. overdose of [[Chemistry:Vitamin A|vitamin A]] leads to inappropriate activation of retinoid receptors resulting in e.g. malformations, and overdoses of [[Chemistry:Glucocorticoid|corticosteroids]] or [[Chemistry:Testosterone|sex hormones]] lead to a multitude of adverse effects. Therefore, it is important to separate the effects of low doses causing activation of the receptor around the physiological range from the effects of high toxic doses. This is all the more important because of large differences in exposures even among human beings. Western populations today are exposed to dioxins at doses leading to concentrations of 5 to 100 picograms/g (as TEQ in body fat), and the highest concentrations in accidental or deliberate poisonings have been 10,000 to 144,000 pg/g leading to dramatic but not lethal outcomes.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/>

The most relevant toxic outcomes of dioxins both in humans and animals are cancer and the developmental effects on offspring. Both have been documented at high doses, most accurately in animal experiments. As to developmental effects there is an agreement that the present dioxin levels in many populations are not very far from those causing some effects, but there is not yet consensus on the safe level.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/><ref name=EFSAPanel18/> As to cancer, there is a disagreement on how to extrapolate the risk from high toxic doses to the present low exposures.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/>

While the affinity of dioxins and related industrial toxicants to the Ah receptor may not fully explain all their toxic effects including immunotoxicity, endocrine effects and [[Biology:Tumor promotion|tumor promotion]], toxic responses appear to be typically dose-dependent within certain concentration ranges. A multiphasic [[Chemistry:Dose–response relationship|dose–response relationship]] has also been reported, leading to uncertainty and debate about the true role of dioxins in cancer rates.<ref name=Kayajanian>{{cite journal |vauthors=Kayajanian GM |title=The J-shaped dioxin dose response curve |journal=Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |volume=51 |issue=1 |pages=1–4 |date=January 2002 |pmid=11800543 |doi=10.1006/eesa.2001.2115 |quote=This commentary responds to a recent statistical treatment of cancer incidence data in selected workers exposed to dioxin from an earlier NIOSH chemical plant study. Contrary to the NIOSH authors' new findings, the cancer incidence response to increasing dioxin exposure is J-shaped, just as it is in the two major data sets that they failed to reference or explain away. The NIOSH statistical treatment obscured the significant reduction in cancer incidence that occurs at low dioxin exposures. Even though cancer incidence may increase at high dioxin exposures, such increase may be preceded at lower exposures by a significant reduction.}}</ref> The endocrine disrupting activity of dioxins is thought to occur as a down-stream function of AH receptor activation, with thyroid status in particular being a sensitive marker of exposure. TCDD, along with the other PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like coplanar PCBs are not direct agonists or antagonists of hormones, and are not active in assays which directly screen for these activities such as ER-CALUX and AR-CALUX. These compounds have also not been shown to have any direct mutagenic or genotoxic activity.<ref name=Dragan>{{cite journal |vauthors=Dragan YP, Schrenk D |title=Animal studies addressing the carcinogenicity of TCDD (or related compounds) with an emphasis on tumour promotion |journal=Food Additives and Contaminants |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=289–302 |date=April 2000 |pmid=10912243 |doi=10.1080/026520300283360|s2cid=24500449 }}</ref> Their main action in causing cancer is cancer promotion. A mixture of PCBs such as Aroclor may contain PCB compounds which are known [[Biology:Estrogen receptor|estrogen agonists]] but are not classified as dioxin-like in terms of toxicity.  Mutagenic effects have been established for some lower chlorinated chemicals such as 3-chlorodibenzofuran, which is neither persistent nor an AH receptor agonist.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Matsumoto M, Ando M |title=Mutagenicity of 3-chlorodibenzofuran and its metabolic activation |journal=Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=104–111 |year=1991 |pmid=2009865 |doi=10.1002/em.2850170207|s2cid=21462874 }}</ref>

===Toxicity in animals===

'''High doses'''. The symptoms reported to be associated with dioxin toxicity in animal studies are incredibly wide-ranging, both in the scope of the biological systems affected and in the range of dosage needed to bring these about.<ref name=Pohja>{{cite journal |vauthors=Pohjanvirta R, Tuomisto J |title=Short-term toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in laboratory animals: effects, mechanisms, and animal models |journal=Pharmacological Reviews |volume=46 |issue=4 |pages=483–549 |date=December 1994 |pmid=7899475}}</ref><ref name=Tuomisto2019/><ref name=synopsis/>  Acute effects of single high dose dioxin exposure include reduced feed intake and wasting syndrome, and typically a delayed death of the animal in 1 to 6 weeks.<ref name=Linden/> By far most toxicity studies have been performed using 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-''p''-dioxin.

The {{LD50}} of TCDD varies wildly between species and even strains of the same species, with the most notable disparity being between the seemingly similar species of [[Biology:Hamster|hamster]] and [[Biology:Guinea pig|guinea pig]].  The oral {{LD50}} for guinea pigs is as low as 0.5 to 2 μg/kg body weight, whereas the oral {{LD50}} for hamsters can be as high as 1 to 5&nbsp;mg/kg body weight.<ref name=Pohja/> Even between different mouse or rat strains there may be tenfold to thousandfold differences in acute toxicity. Many pathological findings are seen in the [[Biology:Liver|liver]], [[Biology:Thymus|thymus]], and other organs. Some effects such as thymic atrophy are common in many species, but e.g. liver toxicity is typical in rabbits.<ref name=Pohja/>

'''Low doses'''. Very few signs of toxicity are seen in adult animals after low doses, but developmental effects may occur at low dioxin levels, including [[Biology:Fetus|foetal]], neonatal, and possibly pubescent stages.<ref name=Birnb>{{cite journal |vauthors=Birnbaum LS, Tuomisto J |title=Non-carcinogenic effects of TCDD in animals |journal=Food Additives and Contaminants |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=275–88 |date=April 2000 |pmid=10912242 |doi=10.1080/026520300283351|s2cid=45117354 }}</ref> Well established developmental effects are cleft palate, [[Medicine:Hydronephrosis|hydronephrosis]], disturbances in [[Biology:Animal tooth development|tooth development]] and sexual development, and endocrine effects.<ref name=Birnb/> Surprisingly, enzyme induction, several developmental effects and aversion to novel foods occur at similar dose levels in animals that respond differently to acute high-dose toxicity. Therefore, it has been suggested that dioxin effects be divided to type I effects (enzyme induction etc.) and type II effects (lethality, liver damage, anorexia, and tumour promotion).<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> The reason may be different requirements of the transactivation domain structure of the AH receptor for different genes. Some of these low-dose effects can in fact be interpreted as protective rather than toxic (enzyme induction, aversion to novel foods).<ref name=Tuomisto2019/>

===Human toxicity===

'''High doses.''' Toxicity of dioxins at high doses has been well documented after accidents, deliberate poisonings, food contamination episodes, and high industrial exposures.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/><ref>WHO fact sheet: [https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dioxins-and-their-effects-on-human-health Dioxins and their effects on human health], May 2010</ref> Three women in Vienna, Austria, were poisoned with large doses of TCDD in 1998. The highest concentration of TCDD in fat tissue was 144,000 pg/g, the highest ever reported in human beings. The main feature was [[Medicine:Chloracne|chloracne]], a serious skin disease. The victim survived, and other symptoms were modest after initial [[Biology:Gastrointestinal tract|gastrointestinal]] symptoms and [[Medicine:Amenorrhea|amenorrhea]].<ref name=Geusau>{{cite journal |vauthors=Geusau A, Abraham K, Geissler K, Sator MO, Stingl G, Tschachler E |title=Severe 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) intoxication: clinical and laboratory effects |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=109 |issue=8 |pages=865–9 |date=August 2001 |pmid=11564625 |pmc=1240417 |doi=10.1289/ehp.01109865}}</ref> Another acute incident was the deliberate poisoning of Victor Yushchenko, then presidential candidate of Ukraine, in 2004. TCDD concentration in fat was 108,000 pg/g. Also in this case the most prominent symptom was chloracne after initial stomach pain indicating [[Medicine:Hepatitis|hepatitis]] and [[Medicine:Pancreatitis|pancreatitis]].<ref name=Sorg>{{cite journal |vauthors=Sorg O, Zennegg M, Schmid P, Fedosyuk R, Valikhnovskyi R, Gaide O, Kniazevych V, Saurat JH |display-authors=6 |title=2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) poisoning in Victor Yushchenko: identification and measurement of TCDD metabolites |journal=Lancet |volume=374 |issue=9696 |pages=1179–85 |date=October 2009 |pmid=19660807 |doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(09)60912-0|s2cid=24761553 }}</ref> These episodes show that a human being is not as sensitive as the most sensitive animals, since the doses must have been up to 25 μg/kg.

Two serious food contamination accidents were caused by PCB oils used in heat exchangers.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> The PCB oil leaked to rice bran oil consumed by thousands of people in Japan (Yusho disease 1968) and Taiwan (Yu-cheng disease 1979). The toxic effects have been attributed to dioxin-like PCBs and PCDFs. Their daily intake was up to 100,000 times higher than average intake presently.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> There were many skin problems, chloracne, swelling of eyelids, and hypersecretion of [[Medicine:Meibomian gland|Meibomian gland]]s in the eyes. Babies born to Yusho and Yu-cheng mothers were smaller than normal, they had dark pigmentation and sometimes teeth at birth and tooth deformities. Foetal deaths and miscarriages were common.<ref name=Mitoma15>{{cite journal |vauthors=Mitoma C, Uchi H, Tsukimori K, Yamada H, Akahane M, Imamura T, Utani A, Furue M |display-authors=6 |title=Yusho and its latest findings-A review in studies conducted by the Yusho Group |journal=Environment International |volume=82 |pages=41–8 |date=September 2015 |pmid=26010306 |doi=10.1016/j.envint.2015.05.004}}</ref>

Perhaps the best known dioxin accident occurred in Seveso, Italy, in 1976. A tank of [[Chemistry:Chlorophenol|chlorophenol]]s released its contents to air including many kilograms of TCDD, and contaminated much of the city. The highest TCDD levels were found in children, up to 56,000 pg/g fat. Acute effects were limited to chloracne, although many animals such as rabbits died after eating contaminated grass.<ref name=Sweeney>{{cite journal |vauthors=Sweeney MH, Mocarelli P |title=Human health effects after exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD |journal=Food Additives and Contaminants |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=303–16 |date=April 2000 |pmid=10912244 |doi=10.1080/026520300283379|s2cid=11814994 }}</ref> Dental aberrations were found after 25 years in persons exposed as children, and a slightly increased cancer risk was confirmed 35 years later.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/>

In line with animal studies, developmental effects may be much more important than effects in adults. These include disturbances of [[Biology:Tooth|tooth]] development,<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Alaluusua S, Calderara P, Gerthoux PM, Lukinmaa PL, Kovero O, Needham L, Patterson DG, Tuomisto J, Mocarelli P |display-authors=6 |title=Developmental dental aberrations after the dioxin accident in Seveso |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=112 |issue=13 |pages=1313–8 |date=September 2004 |pmid=15345345 |pmc=1247522 |doi=10.1289/ehp.6920}}</ref> and of sexual development.<ref name="pmid10866441">{{cite journal |vauthors=Mocarelli P, Gerthoux PM, Ferrari E, Patterson DG, Kieszak SM, Brambilla P, Vincoli N, Signorini S, Tramacere P, Carreri V, Sampson EJ, Turner WE, Needham LL |title=Paternal concentrations of dioxin and sex ratio of offspring |journal=Lancet |volume=355 |issue=9218 |pages=1858–63 |date=May 2000 |pmid=10866441 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(00)02290-X |hdl=10281/16136 |s2cid=6353869 |hdl-access=free}}</ref>

An example of the variation in responses is clearly seen in a study following the Seveso disaster indicating that [[Biology:Sperm|sperm]] count and motility were affected in different ways in exposed males, depending on whether they were exposed before, during or after puberty.<ref name="pmid18197302">{{cite journal |vauthors=Mocarelli P, Gerthoux PM, Patterson DG, Milani S, Limonta G, Bertona M, Signorini S, Tramacere P, Colombo L, Crespi C, Brambilla P, Sarto C, Carreri V, Sampson EJ, Turner WE, Needham LL |title=Dioxin exposure, from infancy through puberty, produces endocrine disruption and affects human semen quality |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=116 |issue=1 |pages=70–7 |date=January 2008 |pmid=18197302 |pmc=2199303 |doi=10.1289/ehp.10399}}</ref>

In occupational settings many symptoms have been seen, but exposures have always been to a multitude of chemicals including [[Chemistry:Chlorophenol|chlorophenol]]s, [[Biology:Phenoxy herbicide|chlorophenoxy acid herbicides]], and [[Physics:Solvent|solvent]]s. Therefore, definitive proof of dioxins as causative factors has been difficult to obtain. By far the best proven effect is chloracne. The suspected effects in adults are liver damage, and alterations in [[Biology:Heme|heme]] metabolism, serum [[Chemistry:Lipid|lipid]] levels, [[Biology:Thyroid|thyroid]] functions, as well as [[Medicine:Diabetes|diabetes]] and [[Biology:Immunology|immunological effects]].<ref name=Sweeney/>

'''Low exposures.''' Effects after low exposures such as from food have been difficult to prove. Levels of dioxins in contemporary population are 5 to 20 pg/g (TEQ in fat) and 50 to 100 pg in older people<ref name=Liem>{{cite journal |vauthors=Liem AK, Fürst P, Rappe C |title=Exposure of populations to dioxins and related compounds |journal=Food Additives and Contaminants |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=241–59 |date=April 2000 |pmid=10912239 |doi=10.1080/026520300283324|s2cid=24861588 }}</ref><ref name=TuomistoSTS>{{cite journal |vauthors=Tuomisto JT, Pekkanen J, Kiviranta H, Tukiainen E, Vartiainen T, Tuomisto J |title=Soft-tissue sarcoma and dioxin: A case-control study |journal=International Journal of Cancer |volume=108 |issue=6 |pages=893–900 |date=March 2004 |pmid=14712494 |doi=10.1002/ijc.11635 |doi-access=free}}</ref> or at least 1000 times lower than those in poisonings (see above). Tooth deformities have been considered plausible after long breast-feeding, when the dioxin concentrations were high in 1970s and 1980s.<ref name=Alaluusua96>{{cite journal |vauthors=Alaluusua S, Lukinmaa PL, Vartiainen T, Partanen M, Torppa J, Tuomisto J |title=Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans via mother's milk may cause developmental defects in the child's teeth |journal=Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=193–7 |date=May 1996 |pmid=21781681 |doi=10.1016/1382-6689(96)00007-5}}</ref> When the concentrations decreased during 1990s and 2000s, the effects were no longer seen.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> According to a study in Russia, sperm counts in 18-19 year old young men were lower when dioxin levels were higher at the age of 8 to 9 years.<ref name=MínguezAlarcon17>{{cite journal |vauthors=Mínguez-Alarcón L, Sergeyev O, Burns JS, Williams PL, Lee MM, Korrick SA, Smigulina L, Revich B, Hauser R |display-authors=6 |title=A Longitudinal Study of Peripubertal Serum Organochlorine Concentrations and Semen Parameters in Young Men: The Russian Children's Study |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=125 |issue=3 |pages=460–466 |date=March 2017 |pmid=27713107 |pmc=5332179 |doi=10.1289/EHP25}}</ref> This was in industrial environments causing relatively high exposures to boys as well as their mothers.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> The contamination panel of the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) recommended decreasing [[Chemistry:Tolerable weekly intake|tolerable weekly intake]] (TWI) levels based on the Russian children study.<ref name=EFSAPanel18>{{cite journal |last1=EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain |title=Risk for animal and human health related to the presence of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in feed and food |journal=EFSA Journal |date=2018 |volume=16 |issue=11 |page=5333 |doi=10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5333 |pmid=32625737 |pmc=7009407 |url=https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/5333 |doi-access=free}}</ref> This recommendation can be challenged, because it does not properly consider competing risks following from lost benefits of important and healthy food items such as certain fish.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> TWI levels are not applied for breast feeding, because benefits of breast milk are judged to be far more important than the remote risks of dioxins.<ref name="WHO2000">{{cite journal |title=Consultation on assessment of the health risk of dioxins; re-evaluation of the tolerable daily intake (TDI): executive summary |journal=Food Additives and Contaminants |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=223–40 |date=April 2000 |pmid=10912238 |doi=10.1080/713810655|s2cid=216644694 }}</ref> A general conclusion may be that safety margins are not very great concerning developmental effects, but toxic effects are not likely at the present population levels of dioxins.

A number of [[Social:Cross-sectional study|cross-sectional studies]] have shown associations between [[Medicine:Type 2 diabetes|type 2 diabetes]] and several POP compounds including dioxins.<ref name=Magliano14>{{cite journal |vauthors=Magliano DJ, Loh VH, Harding JL, Botton J, Shaw JE |title=Persistent organic pollutants and diabetes: a review of the epidemiological evidence |journal=Diabetes & Metabolism |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=1–14 |date=February 2014 |pmid=24262435 |doi=10.1016/j.diabet.2013.09.006}}</ref> Such observational studies cannot prove causality, i.e. there may be an association which does not prove that one is the cause of the other. The main problem is that similar associations can be found with many quite different POPs, which have only long [[Biology:Biological half-life|half-lives]] and tendency to accumulate in lipids in common. This suggests that they may all be related to diet and obesity which are by far the most common causes of type 2 diabetes.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/>

Over the years there have been speculations on various effects of dioxins on [[Medicine:Endometriosis|endometriosis]], sexual development, [[Medicine:Hepatotoxicity|liver function]], thyroid hormone levels, [[Biology:White blood cell|white blood cell]] levels, [[Biology:Immune system|immune]] functions, and even learning and intelligence. While some of these effects might be possible after heavy exposures (like in the Seveso disaster), these claims are only based on potential exposures of population, not supported by actual measurements of dioxin concentrations.<ref name=Sweeney/> E.g. absorption from bleached tampons claimed to be associated with endometriosis<ref>{{Cite web |website=Endometriosis Research Center |url=https://www.endocenter.org/endostudy.htm |title=ERC Responds to Recent Endometriosis Study |access-date=2016-01-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202054528/http://endocenter.org/endostudy.htm |archive-date=2016-02-02}}</ref> is insignificant compared with daily dioxin intake from food.<ref name=Liem/>

===Carcinogenicity===

Dioxins are well established [[Biology:Carcinogenesis|carcinogens]] in animal studies, although the precise mechanism is not clear. Dioxins are not mutagenic or genotoxic.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/><ref name="Dragan"/><ref name=Schrenk12>{{cite book |vauthors=Schrenk D, Chopra M |veditors=Pohjanvirta R |title=The AH receptor in biology and toxicology |publisher=Wiley |isbn=9780470601822 |chapter=Dioxin activated AHR and cancer in laboratory animals|date=20 December 2011 }}</ref>  The United States Environmental Protection Agency has categorised dioxin, and the mixture of substances associated with sources of dioxin toxicity as a "likely human carcinogen".<ref>{{Cite web |website=Minnesota Department of Health |url=https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/risk/docs/guidance/dioxinmemo1.pdf |title=Methods for Estimating the Carcinogenic Health Risks from Dioxin-Like Compounds |date=June 2009 |access-date=2021-09-13}}</ref> The [[Organization:International Agency for Research on Cancer|International Agency for Research on Cancer]] has classified TCDD as a human carcinogen (class 1) on the basis of clear animal carcinogenicity and limited human data,<ref name=IARC>IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Volume 69, Lyon, 1997</ref> and subsequently also 2,3,4,7,8-PCDF and PCB 126 as class 1 carcinogens.<ref name="IARC12">{{Cite book |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK304398/ |title=2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzopara-dioxin, 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran, and 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl |last=IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans |date=2012 |publisher=International Agency for Research on Cancer |volume=100F |pages=339–378 |language=en}}</ref> The mechanism is thought to be mainly promotion, i.e. dioxins can accelerate the formation of tumours caused by other factors, and adversely affect the normal mechanisms for inhibiting tumour growth.<ref name=Dragan/> Some researchers have also proposed that dioxin induces cancer progression through a very different mitochondrial pathway.<ref>FN ISI Export Format VR 1.0 PT J TI Cancer and TCDD: The mitochondrial connection AU Mead, MN SO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES VL 116 IS 3 BP A112 EP A112 PY 2008 TC 0 UT WOS:000253670600010 SN 0091-6765 ER  EF</ref>

As with many toxic endpoints of dioxin, a clear dose–response relationship is difficult to establish. After accidental or high occupational exposures there is evidence on human carcinogenicity.<ref name=Kogevinas>{{cite journal |vauthors=Kogevinas M |title=Studies of cancer in humans |journal=Food Additives and Contaminants |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=317–24 |date=April 2000 |pmid=10912245 |doi=10.1080/026520300283388|s2cid=13086747 }}</ref><ref name="pmid19754930">{{cite journal |vauthors=Pesatori AC, Consonni D, Rubagotti M, Grillo P, Bertazzi PA |title=Cancer incidence in the population exposed to dioxin after the "Seveso accident": twenty years of follow-up |journal=Environmental Health |volume=8 |pages=39 |date=September 2009 |pmid=19754930 |pmc=2754980 |doi=10.1186/1476-069X-8-39 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Increases in cancer have been modest, in fact reaching statistical significance has been difficult even after high accidental or occupational exposures like in Yusho and Yucheng poisonings, Seveso accident, and combined occupational cohorts.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> Therefore, controversies on cancer risk at low population levels of dioxins are understandable.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/><ref name=Kayajanian/><ref name=Kogevinas/><ref name=TuomistoSTS/> The problem with IARC evaluations<ref name="IARC12"/> is that they only assess hazard, i.e. carcinogenicity at any dose. It is likely that there is a practical safe threshold for the non-genotoxic dioxins, and the present population levels do not possess any risk of cancer. There is thus some agreement on that cancer risk is taken care of as well, if daily intake limits are set to protect from developmental effects.<ref name=WHO2000/><ref name=Tuomisto2019/> Among fishermen with high dioxin concentrations in their bodies, cancer deaths were decreased rather than increased.<ref name=Turunen2008>{{cite journal |vauthors=Turunen AW, Verkasalo PK, Kiviranta H, Pukkala E, Jula A, Männistö S, Räsänen R, Marniemi J, Vartiainen T |display-authors=6 |title=Mortality in a cohort with high fish consumption |journal=International Journal of Epidemiology |volume=37 |issue=5 |pages=1008–17 |date=October 2008 |pmid=18579573 |doi=10.1093/ije/dyn117 |doi-access=free}}</ref> All this means that in case of important beneficial food items and breast feeding a thorough benefit/risk analysis is needed before setting limits, in order to avoid increased other risks or lost benefits.<ref name="Tuomisto19">{{cite journal |vauthors=Tuomisto JT, Asikainen A, Meriläinen P, Haapasaari P |title=Health effects of nutrients and environmental pollutants in Baltic herring and salmon: a quantitative benefit-risk assessment |journal=BMC Public Health |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=64 |date=January 2020 |pmid=31941472 |pmc=6964011 |doi=10.1186/s12889-019-8094-1 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Risk assessment===

The uncertainty and variability in the dose–response relationship of dioxins in terms of their toxicity, as well as the ability of dioxins to bioaccumulate, have led WHO experts to recommending very low [[Chemistry:Tolerable daily intake|tolerable daily intake]] (TDI) of dioxin, 1-4 pg/kg body weight per day, i.e. 7x10<sup>−11</sup> to 2.8x10<sup>−10</sup>g per 70-kg person per day, to allow for this uncertainty and ensure public safety in all instances.<ref name=WHO2000/> Authorities have then set weekly or monthly intake levels that equal to TDIs around 2 pg/kg.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> Because dioxins are eliminated very slowly, the body burden accumulated during the whole lifetime is high compared with daily doses, and occasional modest exceedances of limit values do not change it much. Therefore, long-term intake is much more important than daily intake.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> Specifically, the TDI has been assessed to guarantee the safety of children born to mothers exposed to such a daily intake of dioxins all their lifetime prior to pregnancy.<ref name=WHO2000/> It is likely that the TDI for other population groups could be higher.

One important cause for differences in different assessments has been carcinogenicity. If the dose-response of TCDD in causing cancer is linear, it might be a true risk. If the dose-response is of a [[Threshold model|threshold-type]] or J-shape, there is little or no risk at the present concentrations. Understanding the mechanisms of toxicity better is hoped to increase the reliability of risk assessment.<ref name=dangers/><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Tuomisto J |title=Does mechanistic understanding help in risk assessment--the example of dioxins |journal=Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology |volume=207 |issue=2 Suppl |pages=2–10 |date=September 2005 |pmid=15996698 |doi=10.1016/j.taap.2005.01.053}}</ref> Recently also developmental effects have been reassessed by the Contamination Panel of the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA). They propose decreasing the [[Chemistry:Tolerable weekly intake|tolerable weekly intake]] (TWI) from 14 pg/kg to 2 pg/kg.<ref name=EFSAPanel18/> This is likely to cause another controversy before being accepted by European countries.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> Dioxin intake and levels in breast milk in 1970s and 1980s were 5 to 10 times higher than presently, and very few effects have been found, possibly mild developmental effects on teeth.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/>

===Toxicity equivalents===

All dioxin-like compounds share a common mechanism of action via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), but their potencies are very different. This means that similar effects are caused by all of them, but much larger doses of some of them are needed than of TCDD. Binding to the AHR as well as persistence in the environment and in the organism depends on the presence of so-called "lateral chlorines", in case of dioxins and furans, chlorine substitutes in positions 2,3,7, and 8.<ref name=synopsis/> Each additional non-lateral chlorine decreases the potency, but qualitatively the effects remain similar. Therefore, a simple sum of different dioxin congeners is not a meaningful measure of toxicity. To compare the toxicities of various congeners and to render it possible to make a toxicologically meaningful sum of a mixture, a toxicity equivalency (TEQ) concept was created.<ref name=Berg/>

Each congener has been given a [[Physics:Toxic equivalency factor|toxicity equivalence factor]] (TEF).<ref name=Berg/><ref name="pmid31444645" /> This indicates its relative toxicity as compared with TCDD. Most TEFs have been extracted from ''in vivo'' toxicity data on animals, but if these are missing (e.g. in case of some PCBs), less reliable ''in vitro'' data have been used.<ref name=Berg/> After multiplying the actual amount or concentration of a congener by its TEF, the product is the virtual amount or concentration of TCDD having effects of the same magnitude as the compound in question. This multiplication is done for all compounds in a mixture, and these "equivalents of TCDD" can then simply be added, resulting in TEQ, the amount or concentration of TCDD toxicologically equivalent to the mixture.

The TEQ conversion makes it possible to use all studies on the best studied TCDD to assess the toxicity of a mixture. This is most useful in regulatory work, but it can also be used in scientific studies.<ref name=Tuomisto12>{{cite book |last1=Tuomisto |first1=Jouko |title=The AH Receptor in Biology and Toxicology |date=2011 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Ltd |isbn=9781118140574 |pages=317–330 |language=en |chapter=The Toxic Equivalency Principle and its Application in Dioxin Risk Assessment |doi=10.1002/9781118140574.ch23}}</ref> This resembles the common measure of all alcoholic drinks: beer, wine and whiskey can be added together as absolute alcohol, and this sum gives the toxicologically meaningful measure of the total impact.

The TEQ only applies to dioxin-like effects mediated by the AHR. Some toxic effects (especially of PCBs) may be independent of the AHR, and those are not taken into account by using TEQs.

TEFs are also approximations with certain amount of scientific judgement rather than scientific facts. Therefore, they may be re-evaluated from time to time. There have been several TEF versions since the 1980s. The most recent re-assessment was by an expert group of the World Health organization in 2005.

[[File:Dibenzo-p-dioxin-numbering-2D-skeletal.png|thumb|upright=.75|The [[Chemistry:Skeletal formula|skeletal formula]] and substituent numbering scheme of the parent compound dibenzo-''p''-dioxin]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+WHO Toxic Equivalence Factors (WHO-TEF) for the '''dioxin-like''' congeners of concern<ref name="Berg" />
!Class
!Congener
!Toxic Equivalence Factor<ref name="Berg" />
|-
| rowspan="7" |Polychlorinated dioxins
|[[Chemistry:2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin|2,3,7,8-TCDD]]
|1
|-
|1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD
|1
|-
|1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD
|0.1
|-
|1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD
|0.1
|-
|1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD
|0.1
|-
|[[Chemistry:Heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin|1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD]]
|0.01
|-
|OCDD
|0.0003
|-
| rowspan="10" |Polychlorinated dibenzofurans
|2,3,7,8-TCDF
|0.1
|-
|1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF
|0.03
|-
|2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF
|0.3
|-
|1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF
|0.1
|-
|1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF
|0.1
|-
|1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF
|0.1
|-
|2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF
|0.1
|-
|1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF
|0.01
|-
|1,2,3,4,7,8,9-HpCDF
|0.01
|-
|OCDF
|0.0003
|-
| rowspan="4" |Non-ortho-substituted PCBs
|3,3’,4,4’-TCB (77)
|0.0001
|-
|3,4,4’,5-TCB (81)
|0.0003
|-
|3,3’,4,4’,5-PeCB (126)
|0.1
|-
|3,3’,4,4’,5,5’-HxCB (169)
|0.03
|-
| rowspan="8" |Mono-ortho-substituted PCBs
|2,3,3’,4,4’-PeCB (105)
|0.00003
|-
|2,3,4,4’,5-PeCB (114)
|0.00003
|-
|2,3’,4,4’,5-PeCB (118)
|0.00003
|-
|2’,3,4,4’,5-PeCB (123)
|0.00003
|-
|2,3,3’,4,4’,5-HxCB (156)
|0.00003
|-
|2,3,3’,4,4’,5’-HxCB (157)
|0.00003
|-
|2,3’,4,4’,5,5’-HxCB (167)
|0.00003
|-
|2,3,3’,4,4’,5,5’-HpCB (189)
|0.00003
|}
:(T = tetra, Pe = penta, Hx = hexa, Hp = hepta, O = octa)
<gallery mode="packed" heights="300">
File:2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD.svg|The 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDDs<ref name="Berg" />
File:2,3,7,8-substituted PCDF.svg|The 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDFs<ref name="Berg" />
File:Dl-PCB.svg|Dioxin-like PCBs<ref name="Berg" />
</gallery>

===Controversy===
Greenpeace and some other environmental groups have called for the chlorine industry to be phased out.<ref name=dc>{{cite web |url=http://www.herinst.org/envcrisis/dioxin/background/dioxin.html |title=Dioxin Controversy - What are Dioxins? |website=herinst.org}}</ref><ref name=sb>Sharon Beder. [http://www.herinst.org/sbeder/children/dioxin.html 'The dioxin controversy: spilling over into schools'], ''Australian Science Teachers' Journal'', November 1998, pp. 28-34.</ref><ref name=gs/> However, chlorine industry supporters say that "banning chlorine would mean that millions of people in the third world would die from want of disinfected water".<ref>Sharon Beder (2000) ''Global Spin: The Corporate Assault on Environmentalism'', Scribe Publications, p. 153.</ref> Sharon Beder and others have argued that the dioxin controversy has been very political and that large companies have tried to play down the seriousness of the problems of dioxin.<ref name=sb/><ref name=gs>Sharon Beder (2000). ''Global Spin: The Corporate Assault on Environmentalism'', Scribe Publications, chapters 9 and 13.</ref><ref>Ronald Christaldi. [http://www.law.fsu.edu/Journals/Landuse/vol112/bkrev2.html Book Review: Dying From Dioxin by Lois Marie Gibbs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029183932/http://www.law.fsu.edu/Journals/Landuse/vol112/bkrev2.html |date=2013-10-29}} ''Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law'', 1996.</ref> The companies involved have often said that the campaign against dioxin is based on "fear and emotion" and not on science.<ref>{{cite book |vauthors=Beder S |title=Global spin: The corporate assault on environmentalism. |location=Devon |publisher=Green Books |date=March 2002 |page=154}}</ref>

==Human intake and levels==

Most intake of dioxin-like chemicals is from food of animal origin: meat, dairy products, or fish predominate, depending on the country.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/><ref>[http://books.nap.edu/html/dioxins/reportbrief.pdf Dioxins And Dioxin-Like Compounds In The Food Supply: Strategies To De-crease Exposure] Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), Institute of Medicine</ref> The daily intake of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs as TEQ is of the order of 100 pg/day, i.e. 1-2 pg/kg/day.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> In many countries both the absolute and relative significance of dairy products and meat have decreased due to strict emission controls, and brought about the decrease of total intake. E.g. in the United Kingdom the total intake of PCDD/F in 1982 was 239 pg/day and in 2001 only 21 pg/day (WHO-TEQ).<ref name=synopsis/> Since the half-lives are very long (for e.g. TCDD 7–8 years), the body burden will increase almost over the whole lifetime. Therefore, the concentrations may increase five to tenfold from age 20 to age 60.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Kiviranta H, Tuomisto JT, Tuomisto J, Tukiainen E, Vartiainen T |title=Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and biphenyls in the general population in Finland |journal=Chemosphere |volume=60 |issue=7 |pages=854–69 |date=August 2005 |pmid=15992592 |doi=10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.01.064 |bibcode=2005Chmsp..60..854K}}</ref><ref name=Patterson>{{cite journal |vauthors=Patterson DG, Turner WE, Caudill SP, Needham LL |title=Total TEQ reference range (PCDDs, PCDFs, cPCBs, mono-PCBs) for the US population 2001-2002 |journal=Chemosphere |volume=73 |issue=1 Suppl |pages=S261-77 |date=August 2008 |pmid=18511103 |doi=10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.08.074 |bibcode=2008Chmsp..73S.261P}}</ref> For the same reason, short term higher intake such as after food contamination incidents, is not crucial unless it is extremely high or lasts for several months or years.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/>

[[File:Decrease of dioxins in milk.jpg|thumb|Decrease of dioxin concentrations in breast milk in Sweden and Finland<ref name=Tuomisto2019/>]]

The highest body burdens were found in Western Europe in the 1970s and early 1980s,<ref name=Tuomisto2019/><ref name=WHO>{{cite web |url=http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/97032/enhis_factsheet09_4_3.pdf |title=WHO Fact sheet on POPs |website=who.int |access-date=2011-01-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208134834/http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/97032/enhis_factsheet09_4_3.pdf |archive-date=2011-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Norén K, Meironyté D |title=Certain organochlorine and organobromine contaminants in Swedish human milk in perspective of past 20-30 years |journal=Chemosphere |volume=40 |issue=9–11 |pages=1111–23 |year=2000 |pmid=10739053 |doi=10.1016/s0045-6535(99)00360-4 |bibcode=2000Chmsp..40.1111N}}</ref> and the trends have been similar in the U.S.<ref name="pmid15761315">{{cite journal |vauthors=Schecter A, Päpke O, Tung KC, Joseph J, Harris TR, Dahlgren J |title=Polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants in the U.S. population: current levels, temporal trends, and comparison with dioxins, dibenzofurans, and polychlorinated biphenyls |journal=Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine |volume=47 |issue=3 |pages=199–211 |date=March 2005 |pmid=15761315 |doi=10.1097/01.jom.0000158704.27536.d2|s2cid=19770081 }}</ref> The most useful measure of time trends is concentration in breast milk measured over decades.<ref name=Liem/><ref name=WHO/> In many countries the concentrations have decreased to about one tenth of those in the 1970s, and the total TEQ concentrations are now of the order of 5-30 pg/g fat<ref name=Tuomisto2019/><ref name=WHO/> (please note the units, pg/g is the same as ng/kg, or the non-standard expression ppt used sometimes in the United States).<ref name=synopsis/> The decrease is due to strict emission controls and also to the control of concentrations in food.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Fürst P |title=Dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls and other organohalogen compounds in human milk. Levels, correlations, trends and exposure through breastfeeding |journal=Molecular Nutrition & Food Research |volume=50 |issue=10 |pages=922–33 |date=October 2006 |pmid=17009213 |doi=10.1002/mnfr.200600008}}</ref><ref name="pmid19477439">{{cite journal |vauthors=Lignell S, Aune M, Darnerud PO, Cnattingius S, Glynn A |title=Persistent organochlorine and organobromine compounds in mother's milk from Sweden 1996-2006: compound-specific temporal trends |journal=Environmental Research |volume=109 |issue=6 |pages=760–7 |date=August 2009 |pmid=19477439 |doi=10.1016/j.envres.2009.04.011 |bibcode=2009ER....109..760L}}</ref> In the U.S. young adult female population (age group 20–39), the concentration was 9.7 pg/g lipid in 2001-2002 (geometric mean).<ref name="Patterson"/>

Certain professions such as subsistence fishermen in some areas are exposed to exceptionally high amounts of dioxins and related substances.<ref name="pmid11940453">{{cite journal |vauthors=Kiviranta H, Vartiainen T, Tuomisto J |title=Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and biphenyls in fishermen in Finland |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=110 |issue=4 |pages=355–61 |date=April 2002 |pmid=11940453 |pmc=1240798 |doi=10.1289/ehp.02110355}}</ref> This along with high industrial exposures may be the most valuable source of information on the health risks of dioxins.<ref name=Turunen2008/>

===Fate of dioxins in human body===

Dioxins are absorbed well from the digestive tract if they are dissolved in fats or oils (e.g. in fish or meat).<ref name=Pohja/> On the other hand, dioxins tend to adsorb tightly to soil particles, and absorption may be quite low: 13.8% of the given dose of TEQs in contaminated soil was absorbed.<ref name="pmid17223170">{{cite journal |vauthors=Wittsiepe J, Erlenkämper B, Welge P, Hack A, Wilhelm M |title=Bioavailability of PCDD/F from contaminated soil in young Goettingen minipigs |journal=Chemosphere |volume=67 |issue=9 |pages=S355-64 |date=April 2007 |pmid=17223170 |doi=10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.05.129 |bibcode=2007Chmsp..67S.355W}}</ref>

The same features causing persistence of dioxins in the environment also cause very slow elimination in humans and animals. Because of low water solubility, kidneys cannot excrete them in urine as such. They must first be metabolised to more-water-soluble metabolites, but that metabolism, especially in humans, is extremely slow. This results in biological [[Biology:Biological half-life|half-lives]] of several years for all dioxins. That of TCDD is estimated to be 7 to 8 years, and for other PCDD/Fs from 1.4 to 13 years, PCDFs on average slightly shorter than PCDDs.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/><ref name=synopsis/><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Milbrath MO, Wenger Y, Chang CW, Emond C, Garabrant D, Gillespie BW, Jolliet O |title=Apparent half-lives of dioxins, furans, and polychlorinated biphenyls as a function of age, body fat, smoking status, and breast-feeding |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=117 |issue=3 |pages=417–25 |date=March 2009 |pmid=19337517 |pmc=2661912 |doi=10.1289/ehp.11781}}</ref>

In mammals, dioxins are found mostly in fat. Concentrations in fat seem to be relatively similar, be it serum fat, adipose tissue fat, or milk fat. This permits measuring dioxin burden by analysing breast milk.<ref name=WHO/> Initially, however, at least in laboratory animals, after a single dose, high concentrations are found in the liver, but in a few days, adipose tissue will predominate. In rat liver, however, high doses cause induction of CYP1A2 enzyme, and this binds dioxins. Thus, depending on the dose, the ratio of fat and liver tissue concentrations may vary considerably in rodents.<ref name=Pohja/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Elimination half-lives in humans of some PCDD/Fs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Milbrath |first1=MO |last2=Wenger |first2=Y |last3=Chang |first3=CW |last4=Emond |first4=C |last5=Garabrant |first5=D |last6=Gillespie |first6=BW |last7=Jolliet |first7=O |title=Apparent half-lives of dioxins, furans, and polychlorinated biphenyls as a function of age, body fat, smoking status, and breast-feeding. |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |date=March 2009 |volume=117 |issue=3 |pages=417–25 |doi=10.1289/ehp.11781 |pmid=19337517|pmc=2661912 |s2cid=15673575 }}</ref>
!Congener
!Half-life, years
|-
|2,3,7,8-TCDD
|7.2
|-
|1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD
|11.2
|-
|1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD
|9.8
|-
|1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD
|13.1
|-
|1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD
|5.1
|-
|1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD
|4.9
|-
|OCDD
|6.7
|-
|2,3,7,8-TCDF
|2.1
|-
|1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF
|3.5
|-
|2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF
|7.0
|-
|1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF
|6.4
|-
|1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDF
|7.2
|-
|1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF
|7.2
|-
|2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF
|2.8
|-
|1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF
|3.1
|-
|1,2,3,4,7,8,9-HpCDF
|4.6
|-
|OCDF
|1.4
|}

==Uses==

Dioxins have no common uses.  They are manufactured on a small scale for chemical and toxicological research, but mostly exist as by-products of industrial processes such as chlorine bleaching of paper pulp, [[Biology:Pesticide|pesticide]] manufacture, and combustion processes such as [[Engineering:Incineration|incineration]].  The defoliant [[Biology:Agent Orange|Agent Orange]] contained trace amounts of dioxin impurities and caused severe health issues as a result.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060923182824/http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/cabs/dioxins/index.html Dioxins] – ToxFAQs: Chemical Agent Briefing Sheets (CABS)</ref> The wood preservative [[Chemistry:Pentachlorophenol|pentachlorophenol]] often contained dioxins and dibenzofurans as impurities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/assessments/cancer/roc/index.html|title=15th Report on Carcinogens|publisher=National Toxicology Program}}</ref> The Stockholm Convention banned the production and use of dioxins in 2001.

==Sources==

===Environmental sources===

'''PCDD/F-compounds''' were never synthesized for any purpose, except for small quantities for scientific research.<ref name=Linden/> Small amounts of PCDD/Fs are formed whenever organics, oxygen and chlorine are available at suitable temperatures.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> This is augmented by metal catalysts such as copper. The optimal temperature range is {{convert|400|°C}} to {{convert|700|°C}}. This means that formation is highest when organic material is burned in less-than-optimal conditions such as open fires, building fires, domestic fireplaces, and poorly operated and/or designed solid waste incinerators.<ref name=synopsis/> Historically, municipal and medical waste incineration was the most important source of PCDD/Fs.

'''PCB-compounds''', always containing low concentrations of dioxin-like PCBs and PCDFs, were synthesized for various technical purposes (see Polychlorinated biphenyls). They have entered the environment through accidents such as fires or leaks from transformers or heat exchangers, or from PCB-containing products in landfills or during incineration. Because PCBs are somewhat volatile, they have also been transported long distances by air leading to [[Earth:Global distillation|global distribution]] including the Arctic. Only a minor portion of PCBs in mixtures are dioxin-like.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/>

Other sources of PCDD/F include:

* Uncontrolled combustion, particularly open burning of waste ("backyard barrel burning"), accidental fires, wildfires. These are presently the most important sources.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/>
* Metal smelting and refining
* Chlorine bleaching of pulp and paper - historically important source of PCDD/Fs to waterways.<ref name="pmid31444645">{{cite journal |vauthors=Hoffman E, Alimohammadi M, Lyons J, Davis E, Walker TR, Lake CB |title=Characterization and spatial distribution of organic-contaminated sediment derived from historical industrial effluents |journal=Environmental Monitoring and Assessment |volume=191 |issue=9 |pages=590 |date=August 2019 |pmid=31444645 |doi=10.1007/s10661-019-7763-y|s2cid=201283047 }}</ref>
* Synthesis side products of several chemicals, especially PCBs, chlorophenols, chlorophenoxy acid herbicides, and [[Chemistry:Hexachlorophene|hexachlorophene]].<ref name=IARC/>
* (Historical) Engines using [[Chemistry:Tetraethyllead|leaded fuel]], which contained the additives [[Chemistry:1,2-Dichloroethane|1,2-Dichloroethane]] and [[Chemistry:1,2-Dibromoethane|1,2-Dibromoethane]].

====In waste incineration====

Improvements and changes have been made to nearly all industrial sources to reduce PCDD/F production. In waste incineration, large amounts of publicity and concern surrounded dioxin-like compounds during the 1980s-1990s continues to pervade the public consciousness, especially when new incineration and [[Physics:Waste-to-energy|waste-to-energy]] facilities are proposed. As a result of these concerns, incineration processes have been improved with increased combustion temperatures (over {{convert|1000|°C}}), better furnace control, and sufficient residence time allotted to ensure complete oxidation of organic compounds. Ideally, an incineration process oxidizes all carbon to [[Chemistry:Carbon dioxide|CO<sub>2</sub>]] and converts all chlorine to [[Chemistry:Hydrogen chloride|HCl]] or inorganic chlorides prior to the gases passing through the temperature window of 400-700&nbsp;°C where PCDD/F formation is possible. These substances cannot easily form organic compounds, and HCl is easily and safely neutralized in the [[Engineering:Scrubber|scrubber]] while CO<sub>2</sub> is vented to the atmosphere. Inorganic chlorides are incorporated into the ash.

Scrubber and particulate removal systems manage to capture some of the PCDD/F which forms even in sophisticated incineration plants. These PCDD/Fs are generally not destroyed but moved into the [[Chemistry:Fly ash|fly ash]]. [[Chemistry:Catalyst|Catalytic]] systems have been designed which destroy vapor-phase PCDD/Fs at relatively low temperatures. This technology is often combined with the [[Engineering:Baghouse|baghouse]] or [[Chemistry:Selective catalytic reduction|SCR]] system at the tail end of an incineration plant.
[[File:Decrease of dioxins in ambient air over 20 years.jpg|thumb|Decrease of dioxins in ambient air in different regions (redrawn from Dopico and Gomez, 2015)<ref name=Dopico15>{{cite journal |last1=Dopico |first1=M |last2=Gómez |first2=A |title=Review of the current state and main sources of dioxins around the world. |journal=Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995) |date=September 2015 |volume=65 |issue=9 |pages=1033–49 |doi=10.1080/10962247.2015.1058869 |pmid=26068294 |doi-access=free}}</ref>]]

The European Union limit for concentration of dioxin-like compounds in the discharged flue gas is 0.1&nbsp;ng/Nm³ TEQ.<ref>{{CELEX|02000L0076-20081211|format=PDF|text=Consolidated text (11-12-2008): Directive 2000/76/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 December 2000 on the incineration of waste}}</ref><ref>{{CELEX|32019D2010|text=Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/2010 of 12 November 2019 establishing the best available techniques (BAT) conclusions, under Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, for waste incineration (notified under document C(2019) 7987)}}</ref>

Both in Europe<ref name="pmid14659425">{{cite journal |vauthors=Quass U, Fermann M, Bröker G |title=The European dioxin air emission inventory project--final results |journal=Chemosphere |volume=54 |issue=9 |pages=1319–27 |date=March 2004 |pmid=14659425 |doi=10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00251-0 |bibcode=2004Chmsp..54.1319Q}}</ref> and in U.S.A.,<ref name=USAsources>{{cite web |url=https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/risk/recordisplay.cfm?deid=159286 |title=An Inventory of Sources and Environmental Releases of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the U.S. for the Years 1987, 1995, and 2000 (Final, Nov 2006) |work=epa.gov}}</ref> the emissions have decreased dramatically since the 1980s, by even 90% (see Figure). This has also led to decreases in human body burdens, which is neatly demonstrated by the decrease of dioxin concentrations in [[Biology:Breast milk|breast milk]].<ref name=WHO/> With the substantial decrease of emissions from municipal waste incinerators, other potentially large sources of dioxin-like compounds, for example from forest and wild fires, have increased relative to industrial sources.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dioxinfacts.org/sources_trends/forest_fires2.html |title=Forest Fires: A Major Source of Dioxins |work=DioxinFacts.org |access-date=3 September 2017}}</ref> They are however not included in the total inventory due to uncertainties in available data.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/dioxin/inventory-dioxin-sources-and-environmental-releases |title=Inventory of Dioxin Sources and Environmental Releases |work=EPA |date=24 November 2014 |access-date=3 September 2017}}</ref> A more recent study on the environmental effects of accidental fires, including forest fires, estimated the emissions from dioxins (PCDD/Fs) to be about equivalent to those from traffic and municipal waste combustion.<ref>Martin, D., Tomida, M. & Meacham, B. (2016) [https://doi.org/10.1186/s40038-016-0014-1 "Environmental impact of fire."] ''Fire Sci Rev'' '''5''', 5 . Retrieved 14 September 2020.</ref>

Open burning of waste (backyard barrel burning) has not decreased effectively, and in the U.S. it is now the most important source of dioxins. Total U.S. annual emissions decreased from {{convert|14|kg}} in 1987 to {{convert|1.4|kg}} in 2000. However, backyard barrel burning decreased only modestly from {{convert|0.6|kg}} to {{convert|0.5|kg}}, resulting in over one third of all dioxins in the year 2000 from backyard burning alone.<ref name=USAsources/>

==== Other sources====
Low concentrations of dioxins have been found in some soils without any anthropogenic contamination. A puzzling case of milk contamination was detected in Germany. The source was found to be kaolin added to animal feed. Dioxins have been repeatedly detected in clays from Europe and USA since 1996, with contamination of clay assumed to be the result of ancient forest fires or similar natural events with concentration of the PCDD/F during clay sedimentation.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Schmitz M, Scheeder G, Bernau S, Dohrmann R, Germann K |title=Dioxins in primary kaolin and secondary kaolinitic clays |journal=Environmental Science & Technology |volume=45 |issue=2 |pages=461–7 |date=January 2011 |pmid=21126071 |doi=10.1021/es103000v |bibcode=2011EnST...45..461S |display-authors=0}}</ref>

====Dioxins and biomass====

In sugarcane cultivation, the remaining [[Biology:Bagasse|bagasse]] after extraction of sugar is used in large amounts for energy production (both [[Engineering:Process heat|process heat]] and electric energy for use both in the sugar factory itself and for other consumers), and locally it has been thought to be a remarkable source of dioxins.<ref name="Yive">{{cite journal |vauthors=Choong Kwet Yive NS, Tiroumalechetty M |title=Dioxin levels in fly ash coming from the combustion of bagasse |journal=Journal of Hazardous Materials |volume=155 |issue=1–2 |pages=179–82 |date=June 2008 |pmid=18166264 |doi=10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.11.045}}</ref> This basically indicates that burning [[Biology:Biomass|biomass]] produces dioxins and it should be done at high enough temperatures and there should be proper filtering of flue gases. For the treatment of gases and pollutants, sugarcane industries often use wet gas scrubbers, such as the [[Engineering:Venturi scrubber|Venturi]] type. In addition, other treatment systems also used are [[Physics:Electrostatic precipitator|electrostatic precipitator]]s and [[Engineering:Baghouse|bag filter]]s.<ref name="Lee2004">{{cite journal |vauthors=Lee WS, Chang-Chien GP, Chen SJ, Wang LC, Lee WJ, Wang YH |title=Removal of polychlorinated dibenzo–p–dioxins and dibenzofurans in flue gases by Venturi scrubber and bag filter |journal=Aerosol and Air Quality Research |volume=4 |pages=27–37 |date=2004 |doi=10.4209/aaqr.2004.07.0003 |doi-access=free}}</ref> These methods may be insufficient<ref name="Yive"/><ref name="Lee2004"/><ref name="Kim2001">{{cite journal |vauthors=Kim SC, Jeon SH, Jung IR, Kim KH, Kwon MH, Kim JH, Yi JH, Kim SJ, You JC, Jung DH |display-authors=6 |title=Removal efficiencies of PCDDs/PCDFs by air pollution control devices in municipal solid waste incinerators |journal=Chemosphere |volume=43 |issue=4–7 |pages=773–6 |date=2001 |pmid=11372864 |doi=10.1016/S0045-6535(00)00432-X |bibcode=2001Chmsp..43..773S}}</ref> Improperly burned biomass, which undergoes only low temperature incomplete combustion, is responsible for much of the negative health effects of indoor air pollution and is a particular problem in the [[Finance:Global South|Global South]] where biomass like wood or cowdung are often the only commonly available fuels for cooking and home heating. In addition to dioxins, other harmful products of incomplete combustion - such as [[Chemistry:Carbon monoxide|carbon monoxide]] - are also released when biomass is burned in low oxygen conditions. Using plastic, particularly chlorine-containing plastics such as [[Chemistry:Polyvinyl chloride|polyvinyl chloride]], as a fuel or firestarter further increases dioxin emissions.

===Environmental persistence and bioaccumulation===

All groups of dioxin-like compounds are persistent in the environment. Very few soil microbes nor animals can break down the PCDD/Fs with lateral chlorines (positions 2,3,7, and 8).<ref name=POP>Claes Bernes: Persistent organic pollutants. Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Stockholm 1998. {{ISBN|91-620-1189-8}}.</ref> Lipophilicity (tendency to seek for fat-like environments) and very poor water solubility make these compounds move from water environment to living organisms having lipid cell structures. This is called bioaccumulation. Increase in chlorination increases both stability and lipophilicity. The compounds with the very highest chlorine numbers (e.g. octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) are, however, so poorly soluble that this hinders their bioaccumulation.<ref name=POP/> Bioaccumulation is followed by biomagnification. Lipid-soluble compounds are first accumulated to microscopic organisms such as phytoplankton (plankton of plant character, e.g. algae). Phytoplankton is consumed by animal plankton, this by invertebrates such as insects, these by small fish, and further by large fish and seals. At every stage or [[Earth:Trophic level|trophic level]], the concentration is higher, because the persistent chemicals are not "burned off" when the higher organism uses the fat of the prey organism to produce energy.

Due to bioaccumulation and biomagnification, the species at the top of the trophic pyramid are most vulnerable to dioxin-like compounds. In Europe, the [[Biology:White-tailed eagle|white-tailed eagle]] and some species of seals have approached extinction due to poisoning by persistent organic pollutants.<ref name=Koistinen>{{cite journal |vauthors=Koistinen J, Koivusaari J, Nuuja I, Paasivirta J |title=PCDEs, PCBs, PCDDs AND PCDFs in black guillemots and white-tailed sea eagles from the Baltic Sea |journal=Chemosphere |volume=30 |issue=9 |year=1995 |pages=1671–1684 |issn=0045-6535 |doi=10.1016/0045-6535(95)00053-B |bibcode=1995Chmsp..30.1671K}}</ref> Likewise, in America, the population of [[Biology:Bald eagle|bald eagle]]s declined because of POPs causing thinning of eggshells and other reproductive problems.<ref>Bull J, Farrand, J Jr (1987). Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. pp. 468–9. {{ISBN|0-394-41405-5}}</ref> Usually, the failure has been attributed mostly to [[Chemistry:DDT|DDT]], but dioxins are also a possible cause of reproductive effects. Both in America and in Europe, many waterfowl have high concentrations of dioxins, but usually not high enough to disturb their reproductive success.<ref name=Koistinen/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/environment/dioxin/pdf/task2annex.pdf |title=EU Dioxin exposure and health data 1999 |website=europa.eu}}</ref> Due to supplementary winter feeding and other measures also, the white-tailed eagle is recovering (see [[Biology:White-tailed eagle|White-tailed eagle]]). Also, ringed seals in the Baltic Sea are recovering.

Humans are also at the top of the trophic pyramid, particularly newborns. Exclusively breastfed newborns were estimated to be exposed to a total of 800 pg TEQ/day, leading to an estimated body weight-based dose of 242 pg TEQ/kg/day.<ref name=ehp2002>{{cite journal |vauthors=Lorber M, Phillips L |title=Infant exposure to dioxin-like compounds in breast milk |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |volume=110 |issue=6 |pages=A325-32 |date=June 2002 |pmid=12055063 |pmc=1240886 |doi=10.1289/ehp.021100325 |url=http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2002/110pA325-A332lorber/abstract.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527184953/http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2002/110pA325-A332lorber/abstract.html |archive-date=27 May 2010}}</ref> Due to a multitude of food sources of adult humans exposure is much less averaging at 1 pg TEQ/kg-day,<ref name=ehp2002/> and dioxin concentrations in adults are much less at 10-100 pg/g, compared with 9000 to 340,000 pg/g (TEQ in lipid) in eagles<ref name=Koistinen/> or seals feeding almost exclusively on fish.

Because of different physicochemical properties, not all congeners of dioxin-like compounds find their routes to human beings equally well. Measured as TEQs, the dominant congeners in human tissues are 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF.<ref name=synopsis /> This is very different from most sources where hepta- and octa-congeners may predominate. The WHO panel re-evaluating the TEF values in 2005 expressed their concern that emissions should not be uncritically measured as TEQs, because all congeners are not equally important.<ref name=Berg/> They stated that "when a human risk assessment is to be done from abiotic matrices, factors such as fate, transport, and bioavailability from each matrix be specifically considered".<ref name=Berg/>

All POPs are poorly water-soluble, especially dioxins. Therefore, ground water contamination has not been a problem, even in cases of severe contamination due to the main chemicals such as chlorophenols.<ref name="VartiainenLampi1995">{{cite journal |vauthors=Vartiainen T, Lampi P, Tolonen K, Tuomisto J |title=Polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorodibenzofuran concentrations in lake sediments and fish after a ground water pollution with chlorophenols |journal=Chemosphere |volume=30 |issue=8 |year=1995 |pages=1439–1451 |issn=0045-6535 |doi=10.1016/0045-6535(95)00037-9 |bibcode=1995Chmsp..30.1439V}}</ref> In surface waters, dioxins are bound to organic and inorganic particles.

==== Remediation research ====
TCDD has been long known to be sensitive to photochemical dechlorination. If exposed to direct sunlight or UV-radiation, it will decompose in a matter of hours.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Crosby|first1=D.|last2=Wong|first2=A.|date=1977-03-25|title=Environmental degradation of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.841331|journal=Science|volume=195|issue=4284|pages=1337–1338|doi=10.1126/science.841331|pmid=841331 |bibcode=1977Sci...195.1337C |s2cid=12913438 |issn=0036-8075}}</ref> Photocatalysis and other methods have also been tested in attempts to remove dioxins in soils and other environments.<ref name=Kanan>{{cite journal |last1=Kanan |first1=Sofian |last2=Samara |first2=Fatin |title=Dioxins and furans: A review from chemical and environmental perspectives |journal=Trends in Environmental Analytical Chemistry |date=January 2018 |volume=17 |pages=1–13 |doi=10.1016/j.teac.2017.12.001}}</ref><ref name=Rathna18>{{cite journal |last1=Rathna |first1=R |last2=Varjani |first2=S |last3=Nakkeeran |first3=E |title=Recent developments and prospects of dioxins and furans remediation. |journal=Journal of Environmental Management |date=1 October 2018 |volume=223 |pages=797–806 |doi=10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.06.095 |pmid=29986327|s2cid=51618638 }}</ref> Because dioxins adsorb tightly to soil particles, and microbial degradation (mostly via dehalogenation, ''[[Biology:Dehalococcoides|Dehalococcoides]]'' CBDB1 being an example)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2003/01/22/Scientists-find-dioxin-eating-bacteria/75121043262000/?u3L=1 |title=Scientists find dioxin-eating bacteria}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Bunge M, Adrian L, Kraus A, Opel M, Lorenz WG, Andreesen JR, Görisch H, Lechner U |display-authors=6 |title=Reductive dehalogenation of chlorinated dioxins by an anaerobic bacterium |journal=Nature |volume=421 |issue=6921 |pages=357–60 |date=January 2003 |pmid=12540897 |doi=10.1038/nature01237 |bibcode=2003Natur.421..357B|s2cid=4381322 }}</ref> of dioxins is very slow, researchers have actively tried to search for mechanisms to increase degradation<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Isosaari|first1=Pirjo|last2=Tuhkanen|first2=Tuula|last3=Vartiainen|first3=Terttu|date=May 2004|title=Photodegradation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in soil with vegetable oil|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/bf02979673|journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research|volume=11|issue=3|pages=181–185|doi=10.1007/bf02979673|pmid=15259701 |s2cid=25641942 |issn=0944-1344}}</ref> or to find especially active microbial species for the purposes of bioremediation.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Smidt |first1=H |last2=de Vos |first2=WM |title=Anaerobic microbial dehalogenation. |journal=Annual Review of Microbiology |date=2004 |volume=58 |pages=43–73 |doi=10.1146/annurev.micro.58.030603.123600 |pmid=15487929}}</ref><ref name=Kanan/><ref name=Rathna18/> By and large, this has not been very successful. In addition, interactions with the animal gut microbiomes are poorly known.<ref name=Atashgani18>{{cite journal |last1=Atashgahi |first1=S |last2=Shetty |first2=SA |last3=Smidt |first3=H |last4=de Vos |first4=WM |title=Flux, Impact, and Fate of Halogenated Xenobiotic Compounds in the Gut. |journal=Frontiers in Physiology |date=2018 |volume=9 |pages=888 |doi=10.3389/fphys.2018.00888 |pmid=30042695|pmc=6048469 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Sources of human exposure===
The most important source of human exposure is fatty food of animal origin (see Human intake, above),<ref name=Liem/> and breast milk.<ref name=ehp2002/> There is much variation between different countries as to the most important items. In U.S. and Central Europe, milk, dairy products and meat have been by far the most important sources. In some countries, notably in Finland and to some extent in Sweden, fish is important due to contaminated Baltic fish and very low intake from any other sources.<ref name=synopsis/> In most countries, a significant decrease of dioxin intake has occurred due to stricter controls during the last 20 years.

Historically, occupational exposure to dioxins has been a major problem.<ref name=IARC/> Dioxins are formed as important toxic side products in the production of PCBs, chlorophenols, [[Biology:Phenoxy herbicide|chlorophenoxy acid herbicides]], and other chlorinated organic chemicals. This caused very high exposures to workers in poorly controlled hygienic conditions. Many workers had [[Medicine:Chloracne|chloracne]]. In a [[Organization:National Institute of Occupational Health|NIOSH]] study in the U.S., the average concentration of TCDD in exposed persons was 233&nbsp;ng/kg (in serum lipid) while it was 7&nbsp;ng/kg in unexposed workers, even though the exposure had been 15–37 years earlier.<ref name=IARC/> This indicates a huge previous exposure. In fact the exact back-calculation is debated, and the concentrations may have been even several times higher than originally estimated.<ref name="pmid16268942">{{cite journal |vauthors=Aylward LL, Brunet RC, Starr TB, Carrier G, Delzell E, Cheng H, Beall C |title=Exposure reconstruction for the TCDD-exposed NIOSH cohort using a concentration- and age-dependent model of elimination |journal=Risk Analysis |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=945–56 |date=August 2005 |pmid=16268942 |doi=10.1111/j.1539-6924.2005.00645.x|s2cid=31104623 }}</ref>

Handling and spraying of [[Biology:Phenoxy herbicide|chlorophenoxy acid herbicides]] may also cause quite high exposures, as clearly demonstrated by the users of [[Biology:Agent Orange|Agent Orange]] in the Malayan Emergency and in the Vietnam War. The highest concentrations were detected in nonflying enlisted personnel (e.g. filling the tanks of planes), although the variation was huge, 0 to 618&nbsp;ng/kg TCDD (mean 23.6&nbsp;ng/kg).<ref name=IARC/> Other occupational exposures (working at paper and pulp mills, steel mills and incinerators) have been remarkably lower.<ref name=IARC/>

Accidental exposures have been huge in some cases. The highest concentrations in people after the Seveso accident were 56,000&nbsp;ng/kg, and the highest exposure ever recorded was found in Austria in 1998, 144,000&nbsp;ng/kg (see [[Chemistry:2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin|TCDD]]).<ref name=Geusau/> This is equivalent to a dose of 20 to 30 μg/kg TCDD, a dose that would be lethal to guinea pigs and some rat strains.

Exposure from contaminated soil is possible when dioxins are blown up in dust, or children eat soil. Inhalation was clearly demonstrated in Missouri in the 1970s, when waste oils were used as dust suppressant in horse arenas. Many horses and other animals were killed due to poisoning.<ref name="pmid557961">{{cite journal |vauthors=Kimbrough RD, Carter CD, Liddle JA, Cline RE |title=Epidemiology and pathology of a tetrachlorodibenzodioxin poisoning episode |journal=Archives of Environmental Health |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=77–86 |date=1977 |pmid=557961 |doi=10.1080/00039896.1977.10667259}}</ref> Dioxins are neither volatile nor water-soluble, and therefore exposure of human beings depends on direct eating of soil or production of dust which carries the chemical. Contamination of ground water or breathing vapour of the chemical are not likely to cause a significant exposure. Currently, in the US, there are 126 Superfund sites with a completed exposure pathway contaminated with dioxins.

Further, PCBs are known to pass through treatment plants and accumulate in [[Engineering:Sludge|sludge]] which is used on farm fields in certain countries. In 2011 in South Carolina, SCDHEC enacted emergency sludge regulations after PCBs were found to have been discharged to a waste treatment plant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestate.com/2013/08/28/2947508/pcb-contamination-found-on-upstate.html |title=PCB contamination found on Upstate waste company's equipment |work=thestate}}</ref>

PCBs are also known to flush from industry and land (aka sludge fields) to contaminate fish,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp17-c6.pdf |title=POTENTIAL FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE |access-date=2018-11-14}}</ref> as they have up and down the Catawba River in North and South Carolina. State authorities have posted fish consumption advisories due to accumulation of PCBs in fish tissue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.catawbariverkeeper.org/issues/library-of-documents-on-mercury-contamination/catawba-river-fish-consumption-advisories-drastically-expanded |title=CATAWBA RIVER FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES DRASTICALLY EXPANDED |work=catawbariverkeeper.org}}</ref>

There have been several food contamination episodes, one of the best known occurred in Belgium in 1999.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> A tank of recycled fats collected for animal feed production was contaminated by PCB oil containing about 1 g of dioxins and 2 g of DL-PCBs. This caused a major alarm in the European Union, but due to relatively fast response and slow accumulation of dioxins in humans there were no health impacts.<ref name=Tuomisto2019/> There was a similar incidence in Ireland in 2008. In 2008, Chile experienced a pork crisis caused by high dioxin concentrations in their pork exports. The contamination was found to be due to zinc oxide used in pork feed, and caused reputational and financial losses for the country, as well as leading to the introduction of new food safety regulations.<ref name="pmid21216436">{{cite journal |vauthors=Kim M, Kim DG, Choi SW, Guerrero P, Norambuena J, Chung GS |title=Formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) from a refinery process for zinc oxide used in feed additives: a source of dioxin contamination in Chilean pork |journal=Chemosphere |volume=82 |issue=9 |pages=1225–9 |date=February 2011 |pmid=21216436 |doi=10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.12.040 |bibcode=2011Chmsp..82.1225K}}</ref> These episodes emphasize the importance of food control, and early detection guarantees that very slowly accumulating dioxins do not increase in humans to levels causing toxic effects.

==References==
* [[File:CC BY-SA icon.svg|50px]] Some content in this article was extracted from [https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/WikiJournal_of_Medicine/Dioxins_and_dioxin-like_compounds:_toxicity_in_humans_and_animals,_sources,_and_behaviour_in_the_environment Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds: toxicity in humans and animals, sources, and behaviour in the environment] at the Wikiversity, which is licensed under the [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA 3.0) license].
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==External links==
* [https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dioxins-and-their-effects-on-human-health WHO fact sheet on dioxins]
* [https://www.ejnet.org/dioxin/ Dioxins & Furans: The Most Toxic Chemicals Known to Science]
* [https://www.julkari.fi/handle/10024/80313 Synopsis on dioxins and PCBs]

{{Aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulators}}

[[Category:Organochlorides]]
[[Category:Endocrine disruptors]]

{{Sourceattribution|Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds}}