Section 2.0: Does dioxin cause cancer?

Yes. 

The EPA report[*fn01/*pdf01{55mb}] confirmed that dioxin is a cancer hazard to people. In 1997, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)*fn02 -- part of the World Health Organization -- published their research into dioxins and furans*pdf02{50kb} and announced on February 14, 1997, that the most potent dioxin, 2,3,7,8-TCDD, is a now considered a Group 1*fn03 carcinogen, meaning that it's a known human carcinogen.

Also, in January 2001, the U.S. National Toxicology Program*fn04 upgraded 2,3,7,8-TCDD from "Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen" to "Known to be a Human Carcinogen." 

See their reports on dioxins[*fn05/*pdf03{3mb}] and furans[*fn06/*pdf04{2.7mb}] from their 12th Report on Carcinogens*fn07 (find related documents under 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)*fn08 and Furan)*fn09. 

Finally, a 2003 re-analysis of the cancer risk from dioxin reaffirmed that there is no known "safe dose"[*fn10/*pdf05{140kb}] or "threshold" below which dioxin will not cause cancer.

A June 2012 study [*fn11/*pdf06{144kb}] shows dioxin to be related to increased incidence of breast cancer.*fn12

References: 

Footnotes:

fn01: http://dioxinsfurans.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/section-50-dioxin-reassessment-report.html

fn02: http://www.iarc.fr/

fn03: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/

fn04: http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov/

fn05: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/newhomeroc/other_background/tetrachl_tcdd_4apps_508.pdf

fn06: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/newhomeroc/other_background/furan1_508.pdf

fn07: http://dioxinsfurans.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/appendix-01-12th-report-on-carcinogens.html
fn08: http://dioxinsfurans.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/appendix-01-section-t-12th-report-on.html

fn09: http://dioxinsfurans.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/appendix-01-section-f-12th-report-on.html

fn:10: http://www.ejnet.org/dioxin/nosafedose.html

fn11: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/abcr.2012.13005

 

PDF Files:

pdf01: {55mb} [DHE-PDF-01] EPA/600/P-03/002F November 2006 An Inventory of Sources and Environmental Releases of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States for the Years 1987, 1995, and 2000.

pdf02: {50kb}  [DHE-PDF-02] IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans Volume 69 Polychlorinated Dibenzo-para-Dioxins and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation Last Updated 08/12/97 (http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol69/volume69.pdf)

pdf03: {3mb}  [DHE-PDF-03] NTP Report On Carcinogens Background Document For 2,3, 7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-P-Dioxin (TCDD) Final March 1999 {http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/newhomeroc/other_background/tetrachl_tcdd_4apps_508.pdf}

pdf04: {2.7mb}  [DHE-PDF-04] NTP Report on Carcinogens Background Document for Furan Final March 1999 {http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/newhomeroc/other_background/furan1_508.pdf}

pdf05: {140kb}  [DHE-PDF-05] No Evidence of Dioxin Cancer Threshold David Mackie,1 Junfeng Liu,1 Yeong-Shang Loh,2 and Valerie Thomas3

pdf06: {144kb}  [DHE-PDF-06] Pesticides and Breast Cancer Roberto Ferro, Arvin Parvathaneni*
, Sachin Patel, Pramil Cheriyath Pinnacle Health, Harrisburg, USA Received June 7, 2012; revised July 15, 2012; accepted July 24, 2012

Section 5.0: Dioxin Reassessment Report

UNDER CONSTRUCTION 05 APRIL 2014

EPA's Dioxin Reassessment Report and Related Government Documents

Where Dioxin Comes From:

• An Inventory of Sources and Environmental Releases of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the U.S. for the Years 1987, 1995, and 2000 (#EPA/600/P-03/002F, November 2006)*fn01
  • {DHE-PDF-09} 8 MB PDF version [*fn02/*pdf01{7.84mb}] 
  • {DHE-PDF-01}55 MB PDF version [*fn03/*pdf02{55mb}]  DHE-PDF-01b
• {DHE-PDF-10} Inventory of Sources and Environmental Releases of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States (External Review Draft, March 2005): The Year 2000 Update [*fn04/*pdf03{16.06}] 
• Database of Sources of Environmental Releases of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States (EPA/600/C-01/012, March, 2001) [*fn05/*db01(zip){34.2mb}]
• {DHE-PDF-11} Inventory of Sources of Dioxin in the United States (External Review Draft, EPA/600/P-98/002Aa April 1998) [*fn06/*pdf04 {5.33mb}]

Health Effects Reports:

• {DHE-PDF-12} EPA’s Reanalysis of Key Issues Related to Dioxin Toxicity and Response to NAS Comments, Volume 1 (#EPA/600/R-10/038F Feb 2012) [*fn07/*pdf05 {4.01mb}] DHE-PDF-12b
• Dioxins and their effects on human health - World Health Organization fact sheet (Fact sheet N°225 May 2010)*fn08
• {DHE-PDF-13} National Academy of Sciences report: EPA Dioxin Assessment Understates Uncertainties, May Overstate Cancer Risk report [*fn09/*pdf06{1.59mb}] also (National Academy of Sciences, July 2006) (see press release)*fn10 also (see Full Report)*fn11 
• Draft Dioxin Reassessment as submitted to National Academy of Sciences for their review 

• {DHE-PDF-14} Part I: Estimating Exposure to Dioxin-Like Compounds Volume 1: Sources of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States (EPA/600/P-00/001Cb Part I/Vol I October 2004) [*fn12/*pdf07 {13.34mb}] Report

• {DHE-PDF-15} Part I: Estimating Exposure to Dioxin-Like Compounds Volume 2: Properties, Environmental Levels, and Background Exposures (EPA/600/P-00/001Cb Part I/Vol 2 October) 2004) [*fn12/*pdf08 {31.89mb}] Report

• {DHE-PDF-16} Part I: Estimating Exposure to Dioxin-Like Compounds Volume 3: Site-Specific Assessment Procedures (EPA/600/P-00/001Cb Part I/Vol 3 October 2004) DHE-PDF-16b [*fn12/*pdf09 {6.50mb}] Report

• {DHE-PDF-17} Part II: Health Assessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds (EPA/600/P-00/001Cb Part II 3 October 2004) [*fn12/*pdf10 {10.06mb}] Report

• {DHE-PDF-18} Part III: Integrated Summary and Risk Characterization for 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds (EPA/600/P-00/001Cb Part III 3 October 2004) [*fn12/*pdf11 {3.17mb}] Report

•  {DHE-PDF-29} Dioxin Reassessment 2003 Part I - III #EPA/600/P-00/001Cb [*fnxx/*pdfxx{33mb} {3585 pages} Complete Draft Report  DHE-PDF-14/15/16/17/18

• {DHE-PDF-19} Draft Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds {The Peer Review Of The Dioxin Reassessment Documents:  Toxicity Equivalency Factors For Dioxin And Related Compounds (Chapter 9) And Integrated Risk Characterization Document} (EPA Contract No. 68-C-99-237 Task Order No. 1 August 24, 2000) [*pdf12 {158kb}] updated 2004*fn12

• Dioxin Environmental Assessment #EPA/600/6-88/005Ca*fn13
• EPA/600/6-88/005Ca see Record Display : EPA National Library Catalog Record Number: 50 of 245*fn14
• Estimating exposure to dioxin-like compounds Executive summary. 1994 Report Number #EPA/600/6-88/005Ca; EPA/600/6-88/005CA Stock Number OCLC Number 31095729 Access URL EPA doc library ONLINE readable document *fn15
• {DHE-PDF-21} Estimating exposure to dioxin-like compounds Executive summary. 1994 Report Number (#EPA/600/6-88/005Ca; EPA/600/6-88/005CA)*pdf14{5.24mb}
• {DHE-PDF-20} Original 1994 EPA Draft Dioxin Reassessment -- Estimating Exposure EPA/600/6-88/005Ca External Review Drafts [*fn16/*pdf13 {26.50mb}]
• {DHE-PDF-22} Original 1994 EPA Draft Dioxin Reassessment -- Risk Characterization Vol III of III #EPA/600/BP-92/001c [*fn17/*pdf15{6.4mb}] 
• {DHE-PDF-23} Original 1994 EPA Draft Dioxin Reassessment -- Risk Characterization Vol II of III #EPA/600/BP-92/001b [*fn17/*pdf16{28.56mb}]
• {DHE-PDF-24} Original 1994 EPA Draft Dioxin Reassessment -- Health Assessment Documents Vol I of III #EPA/600/BP-92/001a[*fn18/*pdf17{20.48mb}]  (a scanned version of the original is available at the bottom of this page on EPA's site)*fn19

{DHE-PDF-25} Read about the convoluted nearly 25+ year history of EPA's dioxin reassessment DioxinTime-frameFebruary2012.pdf [*pdf18{170kb}]   to learn why it is still not out in final form. 

{DHE-PDF-26} For more details on this, read the Behind Closed Doors report Behind Closed Doors- 082808.pdf [*pdf19 {331kb}]  about the chemical industry's efforts to block final release of EPA's dioxin report.

U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) Reports:

• {DHE-PDF-27a} Environmental Health Risks: Information on EPA's Draft Reassessment of Dioxins GAO-02-515 [*fn20/*pdf20{3.7mb}]  (April 2002 report reaffirming that EPA's science is sound) 

• {DHE-PDF-27b} [Read the Alliance for Safe Alternatives' Summary of the Report)] GAO-02-515[*fn21/*pdf20{3.7mb}]

• {DHE-PDF-28a} "EPA's Science Advisory Board Panels: Improved Policies and Procedures Needed to Ensure Independence and Balance" (June 2001) GAO-01-536 [*fn22/*pdf21{410kb}]  

• {DHE-PDF-28b} [Read the Alliance for Safe Alternatives' Summary of the Report] Alliance for Safe Alternatives Eliminating Persistent Toxic Chemicals GAO-01-536[*fn23/*pdf21{410kb}]

References:

Data Base:

db01: [DB-EPA.600.C-01.012]: Sources of Environmental Releases of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States EPA/600/C-01/012, March, 2001 [DB-EPA.600.C-01.012.zip {34.2mb}]

Footnotes:

fn01: Inventory of Sources and Environmental Releases of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the U.S. for the Years 1987, 1995, and 2000 (Final, Nov 2006) {http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/CFM/recordisplay.cfm?deid=159286}

fn02: http://oaspub.epa.gov/eims/eimscomm.getfile?p_download_id=459709

fn03: http://www.epa.gov/ncea/pdfs/dioxin/2006/dioxin.pdf

fn04: http://www.epa.gov/ncea/pdfs/dioxin/2k-update/

fn05: Database of Sources of Environmental Releases of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States EPA/600/C-01/012, March, 2001) {http://cfpub2.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=20797}

fn06: Inventory of Sources of Dioxin in the United States (External Review Draft, EPA/600/P-98/002Aa April 1998) {http://www.epa.gov/ncea/pdfs/dioxin/dioxin.pdf}

fn07: EPA’s Reanalysis of Key Issues Related to Dioxin Toxicity and Response to NAS Comments, Volume 1 EPA/600/R-10/038F {http://www.epa.gov/iris/supdocs/dioxinv1sup.pdf}

fn08: [WHO] Dioxins and their effects on human health {http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs225/en/}

fn09: National Academy of Sciences report: EPA Dioxin Assessment Understates Uncertainties, May Overstate Cancer Risk {http://www.ejnet.org/dioxin/nas2006.pdf}

fn10: (National Academy of Sciences, July 2006) (see press release) {http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?recordid=11688}

fn11: Health Risks from Dioxin and Related Compounds: Evaluation of the EPA Reassessment (2006) {http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11688}

fn12: Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds National Academy Sciences (NAS) Review Draft {http://www.epa.gov/ncea/pdfs/dioxin/nas-review/}

fn13: Environmental Assessment {http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/CFM/nceaQFind.cfm?keyword=Dioxin}

fn14: EPA/600/6-88/005Ca see Record Display: EPA National Library Catalog Record Number: 50 of 245 {http://cfpub.epa.gov/ols/catalog/advanced_brief_record.cfm?&FIELD1=SUBJECT&INPUT1=Absorption%20Biology&TYPE1=EXACT&LOGIC1=AND&COLL=&SORT_TYPE=MTIC&item_count=50}

fn15: Estimating exposure to dioxin-like compounds Executive summary. 1994 Report Number EPA/600/6-88/005Ca; EPA/600/6-88/005CA Access ONLINE readable document URL {http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=200099KQ.txt}

fn16: The 1994 EPA Dioxin Reassessment - Exposure Document Jonathan L. Campbell.{http://www.cqs.com/epa/exposure/}

fn17: {*fnxx http://www.cqs.com/dioxheal.htm}

fn18: {*fnxx http://www.cqs.com/epa/health/}

fn19: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=37015

fn20: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02515.pdf

fn21: http://web.archive.org/web/20051018171238/http://www.safealternatives.org/Newreports.html

fn22: {*fnxx http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01536.pdf } 

fn23: http://web.archive.org/web/20050204083055/http://www.safealternatives.org/gao.html

fn24: 

fn25: 

fn26: 

fn27: 

fn28: 

fn29: 

fn30: 

PDF Files:

pdf01: DHE-PDF-09 {7.84mb} (EPA/600/P-03/002F) November 2006 An Inventory of Sources and Environmental Releases of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States for the Years 1987, 1995, and 2000 { http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-09.pdf}

pdf02: DHE-PDF-01 {55mb} EPA/600/P-03/002F November 2006 An Inventory of Sources and Environmental Releases of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States for the Years 1987, 1995, and 2000. { http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-01.pdf}

pdf03: DHE-PDF-10 {16.06mb} the Inventory of Sources and Environmental Releases of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States: The Year 2000 Update (External Review Draft, March 2005; EPA/600/p-03/002A) full report {http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-10.pdf}

pdf04: DHE-PDF-11 {5.33mb} EPA/600/P-98/002Aa April 1998 External {Review Draft} The Inventory Of Sources Of Dioxin In The United States {http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-11.pdf}

pdf05: DHE-PDF-12 {4.01mb} EPA/600/R-10/038F EPA’s Reanalysis of Key Issues Related to Dioxin Toxicity and Response to NAS Comments, Volume 1 (CAS No. 1746-01-6) In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) February 2012 {http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-12.pdf}

pdf06: DHE-PDF-13 {1.59mb} Health Risks from Dioxin and Related Compounds Evaluation of the EPA Reassessment. Committee on EPA’s Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of TCDD and Related Compounds. Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology Division on Earth and Life Studies {http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-13.pdf}

pdf07: DHE-PDF-14: {13.34mb} Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds National Academy Sciences (NAS) [Review Draft]. Part I: Estimating Exposure to Dioxin-Like Compounds Volume 1: Sources of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States (EPA/600/P-00/001Cb) {http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-14.pdf}

pdf08: DHE-PDF-15: {31.89mb} Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds National Academy Sciences (NAS) [Review Draft]. Part I: Estimating Exposure to Dioxin-Like Compounds Volume 2: Sources of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States (EPA/600/P-00/001Cb) {http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-15.pdf}

pdf09: DHE-PDF-16: {6.50mb} Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds National Academy Sciences (NAS) [Review Draft]. Part I: Estimating Exposure to Dioxin-Like Compounds Volume 3: Sources of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States (EPA/600/P-00/001Cb) {http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-16.pdf}

pdf10: DHE-PDF-17: {10.06mb} Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds National Academy Sciences (NAS) [Review Draft]. Part II: Health Assessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds (EPA/600/P-00/001Cb) {http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-17.pdf}

pdf11: DHE-PDF-18: {3.17mb} Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds National Academy Sciences (NAS) [Review Draft]. Part III: Integrated Summary and Risk Characterization for 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds (EPA/600/P-00/001Cb) {http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-18.pdf}

pdf12: DHE-PDF-19: {158kb} Report On The Peer Review Of The Dioxin Reassessment Documents: Toxicity Equivalency Factors For Dioxin And Related Compounds (Chapter 9) And Integrated Risk Characterization Document EPA Contract No. 68-C-99-237 Task Order No. 1 August 24, 2000 {http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-19.pdf}

pdf13: DHE-PDF-20: {27.14mb} The 1994 EPA Dioxin Reassessment - Exposure Document Introduction EPA/600/6-88/005Ca June 1994 [external draft full copy] {1062 pages}{ http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/CFM/nceaQFind.cfm?keyword=Dioxin}

pdf14: DHE-PDF-21: {5.24mb} The 1994 EPA Estimating Exposure to Dioxin-Like Compounds Vol I Executive Summary EPA/600/6-88/005Ca June 1994 [external draft full copy] {129 pages}{ http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=200099KQ.txt}

pdf15: DHE-PDF-22 {6.4mb} xxxxxxx{*pdf15 http://www.epa.gov/nscep/index.html}

pdf16: DHE-PDF-23 {28.56mb} xxxx{*pdf16 http://www.cqs.com/dioxheal.htm}

pdf17: DHE-PDF-24 {20.48mb} xxxx{*pdf17 http://www.epa.gov/nscep/index.html}

pdf18: DHE-PDF-25 {170kb} xxxx{*pdf 18 http://chej.org/wp-content/uploads/DioxinTimeframeFebruary2012.pdf}

pdf19: DHE-PDF-26 {331kb} xxxx{*pdf19 http://chej.org/wp-content/uploads/Documents/Behind%20Closed%20Doors-082808.pdf}

pdf20: DHE-PDF-27 {3.7mb} xxxx{*pdf20 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02515.pdf} *{fn20a http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02515.pdf}

pdf21: DHE-PDF-28 {xx.xxmb} xxxx

pdf22: DHE-PDF-27b {xx.xxmb} xxxx

pdf23: DHE-PDF-27b {xx.xxmb} xxxx

Original source

Section 1.0: What is dioxin?

Dioxins and furans are some of the most toxic chemicals known to science. A draft report released for public comment in September 1994 by the US Environmental Protection Agency clearly describes dioxin as a serious public health threat.

The public health impact of dioxin may rival the impact that DDT had on public health in the 1960's.

According to the EPA report, not only does there appear to be no "safe" level of exposure to dioxin, but levels of dioxin and dioxin-like chemicals have been found in the general US population that are "at or near levels associated with adverse health effects."

Dioxin is a general term that describes a group of hundreds of chemicals that are highly persistent in the environment. The most toxic compound is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or TCDD. The toxicity of other dioxins and chemicals like PCBs that act like dioxin are measured in relation to TCDD. Dioxin is formed as an unintentional by-product of many industrial processes involving chlorine such as waste incineration,*fn01 chemical and pesticide manufacturing and pulp and paper bleaching. Dioxin was the primary toxic component of Agent Orange, was found at Love Canal in Niagara Falls, NY and was the basis for evacuations at Times Beach, MO and Seveso, Italy.

Dioxin is formed by burning chlorine-based chemical compounds with hydrocarbons. The major source of dioxin in the environment comes from waste-burning incinerators of various sorts and also from backyard burn-barrels.*fn02 Dioxin pollution is also affiliated with paper mills which use chlorine bleaching in their process and with the production of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastics*fn03 and with the production of certain chlorinated chemicals (like many pesticides)*fn04.

Footnotes:

fn01: http://www.energyjustice.net/incineration

fn02: http://www.burnbarrel.org/

fn03: http://www.ejnet.org/plastics/pvc/

fn04: http://www.ejnet.org/toxics/#pesticides

Section 4.0: How are we exposed to dioxin?

The major sources of dioxin are in our diet. Since dioxin is fat-soluble, it bio-accumulates*def01, climbing up the food chain. 

A North American eating a typical North American diet will receive 93% of their dioxin exposure from meat and dairy products (23% is from milk and dairy alone; the other large sources of exposure are beef, fish, pork, poultry and eggs). In fish, these toxins bio-accumulate*def01 up the food chain so that dioxin levels in fish are 100,000 times that of the surrounding environment. 

The best way to avoid dioxin exposure is to reduce or eliminate your consumption of meat and dairy products by adopting a vegan diet.*fn01

According to a May 2001 study of dioxin in foods,[*fn02/*pdf01{219kb}] "The category with the lowest [dioxin] level was a simulated vegan diet,*def02 with 0.09 ppt.... Blood dioxin levels in pure vegans have also been found to be very low in comparison with the general population, indicating a lower contribution of these foods to human dioxin body burden."

In EPA's dioxin report, they refer to dioxin as hydrophobic (water-fearing) and lipophilic (fat-loving). This means that dioxin, when it settles on water bodies, will rapidly accumulate in fish rather than remain in the water. The same goes for other wildlife. Dioxin works its way to the top of the food chain.

Men have no ways to get rid of dioxin other than letting it break down according to its chemical half-lives. Women, on the other hand, have two ways which it can exit their bodies:

• It crosses the placenta... into the growing infant;
• It is present in the fatty breast milk, which is also a route of exposure which doses the infant, making breast-feeding for non-vegan/vegetarian mothers quite hazardous.

References: 

Footnotes: 

fn01: Vegetarian Web Links {http://www.ejnet.org/veg/}

fn02: http://www.ejnet.org/dioxin/dioxininfood.pdf

PDF Files:

pdf01: DHE-PDF-08 {219kb} (1528-7394/01) Intake of Dioxins and Related Compounds from Food in the U.S. Population BY Arnold Schecter {http://dioxinnz.com/pdf-Dioxin-Health-Effects/DHE-PDF-01.pdf}

Section 6.0: Links

UNDER CONSTRUCTION 05 APRIL 2014

Links

Good Overviews of Dioxin

• What is Dioxin? (Center for Health, Environment and Justice factsheet)
• World Health Organization Factsheet: Dioxins and their effects on human health
• Toxic Alert: Dioxin
• Health Effects of Dioxins

Dioxin documents available from the Center for Health, Environment and Justice:

• What is Dioxin? (factsheet)
• How to Start to Stop Dioxin Exposure in Your Community
• People's Report on Dioxin (November 1999)
  • Executive Summary
  • Technical Support Document) (lots of great information on dioxin sources and health effects)
• Dying from Dioxin: A Citizen's Guide to Reclaiming Our Health and Rebuilding Democracy (book available for $10)

Other Valuable Resources:

• Environmental Health Perspectives - free access to many scientific papers on dioxin health effects
• Center for the Biology of Natural Systems (dioxin studies)
  • Study links dioxin pollution in Arctic to North American sources (September 2000) (Executive Summary)
  • ">Dioxin Fallout in the Great Lakes: Where It Comes From; How to Prevent It; At What Cost (June 1996) (PDF "Internet" version)
• Our Stolen Future (the webpage continues where the book left off, documenting the harms of dioxins and other endocrine disrupting, hormone-mimicking chemicals)
• Environmental Health News (breaking news on recent science on environmental health)
• No Evidence of Dioxin Cancer Threshold (Cancer Weekly, 2003) -- (Or, in plain English, there's no known safe level of dioxin.)
• COPA's PCB Information Service (Very good collection of dioxin & PCB resources -- "Remediation Technologies, Health Effects, Regulations, Superfund Case Studies, References & More")
• Toxics and Environmental Health Links

Books on Dioxin:

• The Dioxin War: Truth And Lies About A Perfect Poison (July 2004) [background info on the book: here and here]
• Our Stolen Future: How We Are Threatening Our Fertility, Intelligence and Survival (March 1997)
• Dying from Dioxin: A Citizen's Guide to Reclaiming Our Health and Rebuilding Democracy (October 1995)

Endocrine Disruptors

• e.hormone: your gateway to the environment and hormones (Center for Bioenvironmental Research at Tulane and Xavier Universities)
• EPA Endocrine Disruptors Research Initiative
• EPA Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program Web Site

Dioxins and Incineration:

• Metals as Catalysts for Dioxin Formation
• Continuous Emissions Monitoring of Dioxins
• Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs) Breed Dioxins (ESPs are a type of pollution control device used in some incinerators)

Anti-Incineration Links:

• Incineration and Incinerators-in-Disguise
• Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance (GAIA)
  • Waste Incineration: A Dying Technology
  • An Industry Blowing Smoke: 10 Reasons Why Gasification, Pyrolysis & Plasma Incineration are Not "Green Solutions" (June 2009)
  • GAIA's Publications Page - Other Great Reports on Incineration Issues
  • GAIA's Incineration Factsheets
• Greenpeace Anti-Incineration Resources
  • Chlorine, Combustion and Dioxins: Does Reducing Chlorine in Wastes Decrease Dioxin Formation in Waste Incinerators?
  • The Problem with Incineration
  • Types of Incineration
  • Alternatives to Incineration
  • Incineration and Human Health Report
  • The Construction Cost of Municipal Waste Incinerators - Counter Measures against Dioxin. The Entire Picture of Domestic Expenditure and Its Trend (May 2001)
• Largest Known Dioxin Air Pollution Source (Harrisburg, PA Trash Incinerator) Closed in June 2003 (though a new incinerator has been built in its place)

Section 7.0: Environmental Research Foundation's

UNDER CONSTRUCTION 05 APRIL 2014

Dioxin & Incineration

#326	Carol Browner's Opportunity [Jacksonville]
#325	Troubles Engulf Hazardous Waste Incineration
#314	Cement And Kiln Dust Contain Dioxins
#312	EPA Memo Says All Hazardous Waste Incinerators Fail To Meet Regulations
#311	The Jacksonville, Arkansas Incinerator
#280	Hazardous Waste Incinerators Fail, EPA Says
#179	Medical Incinerators Emit Dangerous Metals And Dioxin, New Study Says
#82	Incineration of Infectious Waste: Poorly Understood Hazards
#45	Part 4: Scientists Study How 'Mass Burn' Incinerators Produce Dioxin
#31	Part 1: Do 'Mass Burn' Incinerators Endanger Humans?

Dioxin & Health Effects

#463	Dioxin and Health
#438	Warning on Male Reproductive Health [endocrine disruptors]
#436	The Dogs of War [pesticides; antibiotics]
#414	Potent Immune System Poison [dioxin]
#400	EPA Investigates Monsanto
#365	New Era in Toxicology [endocrine disruptors]
#364	Dioxin and PCBs and Endometriosis
#353	Dioxin Causes Human Cancers
#343	Do Chemicals Diminish Masculinity? [endocrine disruptors]
#290	Dioxin 'Demasculinizes' Rats [endocrine disruptors]
#264	Endocrine Disruptors--Part 2: Major Challenge To Business As Usual
#263	Endocrine Disruptors--Part 1: Chemicals In Environment Affect Sexual Growth In Wildlife. And Humans?
#219	Dioxin--Part 4: New Study Links Dioxin To Human Cancer
#212	Report Links Herbicide Exposure To Illnesses Among Vietnam Veterans
#175	Dioxin--Part 3: New Evidence That Dioxin Causes Human Cancers & Other Diseases
#173	Dioxin--Part 2: Gauging The Toxicity Of Dioxin
#171	Dioxin--Part 1: Dioxins And Cancer: Fraudulent Studies
#120	Dangers Of Dioxin Exposures: Absorption Through The Skin
#73	Study Of Dioxin-Exposed Humans Reveals Cancer, Birth Defects

Dioxin Politics

#479	Nationwide Dioxin Campaign
#457	Dioxin Inquisition
#405	Turning Point for the Chemical Industry [dioxin]
#391	Dioxin Reassessed, Part 2
#390	Dioxin Reassessed, Part 1
#363	Taking the Handle Off the Chlorine Pump
#346	Detoxifying Everything [Bad journalism]
#310	The N.Y. Times Detoxifies Dioxin [Again]
#283	Army Opens A Front [chemical weapons incinerators]
#275	Dioxin Detoxification Campaign [paper industry]
#270	EPA: Dioxin Damages Human Immune System
#269	EPA: New Picture of Dioxin's Toxicity Emerges
#249	Dioxin Dangers -- What's Going On?
#248	A Tale Of Science And Industry [dioxin]

Section 8.0: Dioxin-Related Email Lists / Archives

UNDER CONSTRUCTION 05 APRIL 2014

Dioxin-Related Email Lists / Archives

Ban Toxics List: Ban Toxics List Archives (to subscribe, send a blank email to: ban-toxics-subscribe@yahoogroups.com)

There used to be an email list called "dioxin-l" which no longer exists, but its archives are available at the following pages:

• Archives of the Dioxin-L List
• Search the old dioxin-l archives
• Archives since 12/20/1999
• dioxin-l archives for 1999
• dioxin-l archives for 1998
• dioxin-l archives for 1997
• dioxin-l archives for 1996
• dioxin-l archives for 1995