Polychlorinated dioxins and furans: Health effects
Description
The most noted health effect in people exposed to large amounts of 2,3,7,8-TCDD is chloracne. Chloracne is a severe skin disease with acne-like lesions that occur mainly on the face and upper body. Other skin effects noted in people exposed to high doses of 2,3,7,8-TCDD include skin rashes, discolouration, and excessive body hair. Changes in blood and urine that may indicate liver damage are also seen in people. Exposure to high concentrations of dioxin may induce long-term alterations in glucose metabolism and subtle changes in hormonal levels. In certain animal species, 2,3,7,8-TCDD is especially harmful and can cause death after a single exposure. Exposure to lower levels can cause a variety of effects in animals, such as weight loss, liver damage, and disruption of the endocrine system. In many species of animals, 2,3,7,8-TCDD weakens the immune system and causes a decrease in the system's ability to fight bacteria and viruses. In other animal studies, exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD has caused reproductive damage and birth defects. Some animal species exposed to dioxins during pregnancy had miscarriages and the offspring of animals exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD during pregnancy often had severe birth defects including skeletal deformities, kidney defects, and weakened immune responses.
Several studies suggest that exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD increases the risk of several types of cancer in people. Animal studies have also shown an increased risk of cancer from exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has determined that 2,3,7,8-TCDD is a human carcinogen. The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that 2,3,7,8-TCDD is known to cause cancer.
Entering the body
Polychlorinated dioxins and furans may enter your body through breathing, ingestion or absorption through the skin.
Exposure
Eating food, primarily meat, dairy products, and fish, makes up more than 90% of the intake of dioxins for the general population. In addition breathing low levels in air and drinking low levels in water as well as skin contact with certain pesticides and herbicides may also be a source of exposure.
You may be exposed from living near an uncontrolled hazardous waste site containing dioxins or incinerators releasing dioxins.
You may be exposed from working in industries involved in producing certain pesticides containing dioxins as impurities, working at paper and pulp mills, or operating incinerators.
Health guidelines
No national guidelines.
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