A Review of Dioxins Exposure and Toxicity

Dioxins and dioxin-like chemical composed of 419 compounds are a large group of compounds including polychlorinated dibenzo-pdioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and biphenyls (PCBs) and related compounds. They are byproducts of combustion and various industrial processes, such as chlorine bleaching of paper pulp and smelting. Soluble in fat, Persistent in environment and disperse in long distances from the source of emission and bioaccumulation in food are important properties of dioxins. Besides, human exposure often occurs through diet specially sea foods. Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds exposure cause disorder in many organs of human such as liver, kidney, immune system, reproductive system, neurotic system and metabolic disorder. Due to classification of dioxins as carcinogen in human, a number of countries have introduced stringent emission standards. They imply in new methods for prevention or amelioration of dioxins from four major source such as, incineration, combustion, industrial and reservoir sources. State-of-the-art remediation technologies available for reducing dioxins formation and emission from the important sources such as, flue gas, fly ash and soil are Treatment of flue gases, Treatment of fly ash and Remediation of soil and sediment. This review paper tries to talk generally about dioxin exposure and toxicity and then points to emission standards in other countries.