Dioxins are very dangerous to human health

Dioxins are a group of chemically-related compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants. Dioxins are found throughout the world in the environment and they accumulate in the food chain, mainly in the fatty tissue of animals. More than 90% of human exposure is through food, mainly meat and dairy products as well as fish products. Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and also cause cancer. Dioxins are of concern because of their highly toxic potential. Scientists have shown they affect a number of organs and systems. Once dioxins have entered the body, they endure a long time because of their chemical stability and their ability to be absorbed by fat tissue, where they are then stored in the body. Their half-life in the body is estimated to be seven to eleven years. In the environment, dioxins tend to accumulate in the food chain. Common usage of artificially manufactured products in most of developed countries has given rise to a variety of chronic illnesses and cancer diseases. It is important to note that dioxins are mainly by-products of industrial processes but can also result from natural processes such as volcanic eruptions and forest fires. Dioxins are unwanted by products of a wide range of manufacturing processes including smelting, chlorine bleaching of paper pulp and the manufacturing of some herbicides and pesticides. In terms of dioxin release into the environment, uncontrolled waste incinerators such as solid waste and hospital waste are often the worst culprits, due to incomplete burning. Technology is available that allows for controlled waste incineration with low emissions.Although formation of dioxins is local, environmental distribution is global. Dioxins are found throughout the world in the environment. The highest levels of these compounds are found in some soils, sediments and food. Short term exposure of humans to high levels of dioxins may result in skin lesions such as patchy darkening of the skin and altered liver function. Long-term exposure is linked to impairment of the immune system, the developing nervous system, the endocrine system and reproductive functions. Chronic exposure of animals to dioxins has resulted in several types of cancer.The developing foetus is most sensitive to dioxin exposure. The newborn with rapidly developing organ systems may also be more vulnerable to certain effects. Some individuals or groups of individuals may be exposed to higher levels of dioxins because of their diets. Prevention and controlProper incineration of contaminated material is the best available method of preventing and controlling exposure to dioxins. Prevention or reduction of human exposure is best done by direct measures that is to say strict control of industrial processes to reduce formation of dioxins as much as possible.Secondary contamination of the food supply needs to be avoided throughout the food-chain. Good controls and practices during primary production, processing, distribution and sale are all essential to the production of safe food. Food contamination monitoring systems must be in place to ensure that tolerance levels are not exceeded. It is the role of national governments to monitor the safety of food supply and to take action to protect public health. When incidents of contamination are suspected, countries should have contingency plans to identify, detain and dispose of contaminated feed and food. The exposed population should be examined in terms of exposure by for example measuring the contaminants in blood or human milk and effect. Clinical supervision to detect signs of illness to people suspected of Dioxin exposure. Trimming fat from meat and consuming low fat dairy products may decrease the exposure to dioxin compounds. Also a balanced diet that includes adequate amounts of fruits, vegetables and cereals will help to avoid excessive exposure from a single source. This is a long-term strategy to reduce body burdens and is probably most relevant for girls and young women to reduce exposure of the developing foetus and when breastfeeding infants later on in life. However, the possibility for consumers to reduce their own exposure is somewhat limited. It should be noted that the quantitative chemical analysis of dioxins requires sophisticated methods that are available only in a limited number of laboratories around the world. These are mostly in industrialized countries. The analysis costs are very high and vary according to the type of sample.