Dioxin and Health

Abstract

Dioxin is one o f environmental contaminating agents which can be found in food, air, soil and water. Dioxin is released into nature via burning operations, combustion o f fuels such as coal, gasoline and wood, bleaching o f paper pulp and industrial operations such as production o f pesticide, fungicide and herbicide as well as being released via natural disasters such as forest fires and volcanic explosions. Presence o f dioxin in a nutrient at high levels is only possible with industrial accidents or chemical decay, because decay o f dioxin as much as it can spread to most o f the food is difficult. Being a highly stable compound, dioxin can be present in nature fo r long periods o f time. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-pdioxin (2,3,7,8 TCDD) is the most toxic one and it is accepted as the most powerful carcinogenic material. Dioxins causing environmental pollution are important fo r human health since they can spread to fo o d from environment. Especially, living in the area close to dioxin resources or production and consumption o f animal food close to dioxin resources is significant in terms o f exposure to dioxin. Taking precautions required fo r the reduction o f dioxin resources in environment would also result in a reduction in the levels o f dioxin both in food and human body.