Dioxins
Dioxin is the common name used to refer to the chemical 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD). Dioxin is one of the most toxic chemicals known CDD and the most studied (Hilgenkamp, 2006, p. 89-90), ("ATSDR - Public Health Statement: Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs)", 1998). Dioxins in pure form, CDDs are crystals or colorless solids and odorless. The Vietnam War Vets was exposed to another dioxin called Agent Orange that was used as a defoliant, which was a spray that made the leaves fall of the trees. In 1994 the EPA says dioxin is a “serious public health threat” ("ATSDR - Public Health Statement: Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs)", 1998), (Hilgenkamp, 2006, p. 89-90).
Dioxins are found throughout the globe in the environment in the food chain, directly in the fatty tissue of animals ("WHO | Dioxins and their effects on human health, 2010").
The possible sources of exposure
There are many ways to be exposed to dioxins by eating beef, pork, chicken, milk, cheese, shell fish and fish; this is more than 90% of the intake of CDDs for the general population. Also, breathing low levels in the air and drinking water. Skin contact with pesticides and herbicides, living near an uncontrolled hazardous waste site containing CDDs or incinerators releasing CDDs. People working in industries that are producing pesticides, working at paper and pulp mills are being exposed to CDDs. They are produced primarily during the incineration or burning of waste; many materials contain chlorine, plastics, wood treated with (PCP), pesticide-treated wastes and even bleached paper can produce CDDs. CDDs are released during combustion of fossil fuels; coal, oil, natural gas and wood. CDDs have been detec...
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... has set a limit of 0.00003 micrograms of 2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD per liter of drinking water (0.000003 ug/L). Discharges, spills, or accidental releases of 1 pound or more of 2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD must be reported to EPA ("ATSDR - Public Health Statement: Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs)", 1998).
REFERENCES
ATSDR - Public Health Statement: Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs). (1998, December). Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=361&tid=63
Hilgenkamp, K. (2006). Environmental Toxins and Toxicology. In Environmental health: Ecological perspectives (pp. 89-90). Princeton, N.J: Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic.
Welcome. (2010, December 22). Retrieved from http://www.agentorangecanada.com/
WHO | Dioxins and their effects on human health. (2010, May). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs225/en/
These applications include pesticide, herbicide, defoliating agent such as Agent Orange, cleaning agent and electrical insulation. Consequently, human exposure to dioxin is not a recent phenomenon and the dangers of dioxin are not unknown. Only in recent years, especially after the Vietnam War, has the media concentrated on the dangers and impact of dioxin. The physical effect of exposure to dioxin was first seen in skin diseases developed by chemical plant workers in 1895. Exposure to dioxin results in a type of skin disease like acne called "chloroacne," since its cause was initially and incorrectly linked to chlorine gas.
Schecter, Arnold, et al. "Recent Dioxin Contamination From Agent Orange in Residents of a Southern Vietnam City." FFRD. N.p., May 2011. . Rpt. in JOEM. Vol. 43. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. 5. FFRD. Web. 3 Apr. 2011.
New York State Temporary Commission on Dioxin Exposure, Dioxin Agent Orange: Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations. Albany: September 1983.
The reason that this dioxin is so dangerous is that the “dioxin is persistent organic pollutant that is toxic over many decades, is not water-soluble and does not degrade easily. Clinging to soil particles carried by water runoff from spills or sprayed areas downstream into the sediments of lakes or streams; it is consumed by mollusks, fish and waterfowl, easily entering the human food chain.” It is chemically stable and is retained in the human fatty tissue. If it is detected early it can be treated by surgery or medication but usually if it is found to late then it can’t be treated (make agent orange
Health effects are prominent in Vietnam veterans but denied by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. As reported in the American Legion Magazine, “The defoliant also is believed to have poisoned many people who handled it or passed through sprayed locations. After the war, a conspicuous percentage of veterans contracted various cancers or diabetes, and birth defects occurred at high rate among their children, VA compensation and care were denied (Carroll).” Denial of these severe diseases and unnatural occurrences by the VA could be construed as a cover-up for the government’s mistake or a truthful disconnect of Agent Orange and the diseases. Research has shown, “Dioxin has been found to be a carcinogen associated with Parkinson’s disease,
EPA. (2009, December 29). Retrieved January 15, 2011, from Toxicity and Exposure Assessment for Children's Health: http://www.epa.gov/teach/
In December of 1982, the EPA found high levels of dioxin in Times Beach, forcing the locals to leave their town. “Dioxin used to be considered one of the most dangerous chemicals on the planet, but it is now under debate because of the differences between high and low-level contamination” (Chemical Conundrum).
During recent years, numerous newspaper and magazine articles have suggested that humans may be at risk because small amounts of well known environmental contaminants, such as dioxin, PCBs and DDT, can affect hormone levels. Hormones are produced by the endocrine system as regulators of biological function in target organs. Because hormones play a critical role in early development, toxicological effects on the endocrine system often have an impact on the reproductive system. The term endocrine disruptor is used to describe chemicals that can mimic hormones and may either enhance or counteract their effects. It has been suggested that these hormone changes can, in turn, lead to a variety of health problems including cancer, decreased fertility, and abnormalities in newborns.
Although toxic chemicals can affect any person of any age, it is certain that children of young ages are much more vulnerable than adults to the chemical pollutants that are harmful. This is due to the rapid development and growing as well as their behavior that includes much hand to mouth activity as well as the tendency to crawl and play in areas that may be contaminated. Young children’s lack of awareness and education about the proper sanitary habits as well as safety, are one of the few reasons they are put at a higher risk than other age groups. It is important to correct or improve toxic chemical issues in today’s world because it is very possible for a child to have serious health damage later on in life when exposed to these pollutants. Many toxic chemicals can be found in homes, schools, places of work and residential areas. Our build environments and many things in it have many sites of hazardous chemical contamination.
Dioxins are a very toxic gas that is released when plastics or household wastes are burned or incinerated. Dioxins can not only cause air pollution, but can also get into soil and water and contaminate it. It also has very harmful health effects on humans.
Hazardous materials come in many forms and include: explosives, flammable and combustible substances, poisons and radioactive materials. These dangerous substances are usually released during a transportation accident or through accidents or chemical spills in plants and factories. Since hazardous materials are shipped or transported through a variety of ways including l, waterways, and major highways and the release of these chemicals could cause serious harm. They can enter our water ways from oil rig spills or enter the environment from a train derailment or a container truck accident. The affects of a hazardous materials incident can include serious injury or death, serious health effects and property damage and environmental damage including bodies of water.
There are many ways that a person may come in contact with toxins. People are exposed to air toxins through breathing the air, drinking water, food from animals, vegetables and fruits, and soil through ingestion or skin contact (http://www.epa.gov/air/toxicair/newtoxics.html#health). The Environmental Protection Agency does a good job of letting people know how they can be exposed to toxins.
Oroian, Viman Oana I. "Damaging Effects of Overall Water Pollution." BioFlux (2010): 113-15. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are an example of toxic substances, as they are made up of chlorine, carbon, and hydrogen and exude harmful properties such as endocrine disruption, carcinogenic effects, and bioaccumulation in living organisms and the environment/ecosystem. Toxins are chemicals that are produced naturally by living organisms that can be a potential danger to the ecosystem, especially its living populations. An example of a toxin is venom produced by snakes and spiders. It is important to note that toxins and chemicals are not the same. All chemicals are NOT toxins, but all toxins are chemicals. Toxicants are chemicals that enter the environment through anthropogenic activities. Toxicants are often characterized as “man-made.” Herbicides are a good example of a toxicant, as they are harmful chemicals used to eliminate the presence of unwanted plant growth, and are introduced into the environment by humans, usually farmers and agricultural workers. Poisons are chemical substances that can cause harmful effects in the biological system of its host, upon exposure. Again, possible hosts include the environment, humans, plants, animals, and other biotic factors in the ecosystem. All chemicals could potentially become categorized as poisons, as the term
Efforts to improve the standard of living for humans--through the control of nature and the development of new products--have also resulted in the pollution, or contamination, of the environment. Much of the world's air, water, and land is now partially poisoned by chemical wastes. Some places have become uninhabitable. This pollution exposes people all around the globe to new risks from disease. Many species of plants and animals have become endangered or are now extinct. As a result of these developments, governments have passed laws to limit or reverse the threat of environmental pollution.