Dioxin Toxicity

Dioxin Toxicity is an extremely complicated topic and, even after more than fifty years of scientific study, many of the various topics are still being debated.

On one side of the debate are the companies that produced products with varying levels of dioxin impurities.  These companies may also have been responsible for various degrees of dioxin contamination of the environment.  Due to the tremendous amount of potential financial liability associated with dioxin contamination, it is in the best corporate interests of these companies to convince regulatory agencies, exposed residents and ex-employees that dioxin exposure is not harmful.  "DioxinSpin" is of vital importance in the debate.

On the other side of the side of the table are employees, residents and ex-employees that have been exposed to varying levels of dioxins.  Whenever health effects, including higher death rates, have occurred, there is always a nagging concern that dioxin exposure may be linked to the health effects.  Over time, various health and regulatory agencies are being convinced that dioxins do present a significant health risk.

This section is divided into the following topics:

•  Chemical structures of dioxins and furans
        [Select For More Information]

•   Dioxin levels in wastes - ppq to % levels
         [Select For More Information]

•   Toxic equivalency factor (TEF's) and Toxic equivalent
        quantities (TEQ's) - an imperfect system, at best
          [Select For More Information]     

•   Acute dioxin exposure - extremely lethal
          [Select For More Information]

•   Chronic dioxin exposure
       •  Non-cancer health risks
       •  Daily dioxin intakes - children
       •  Nursing infants
       •  Dioxin body burden levels
       •  Health risks - children
       •  Health risks - adults
            [Select For More Information]

•  Mortality of Dow Midland Plant Workers (Added July, 2004)
       •  Mortality from very rare cancers
       •  Mortality from mesothelioma
       •  Linkage to Midland plant dioxin levels
           [Select For More Information]