Dioxins and Health, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1994

This book originated in a series of cross-disciplinary conversations in the years 1984-1990 between the editor, who is a physician-researcher involved in clinical and laboratory research, and a dioxin toxicologist. During the years in which the conversations took place, an extraordinary amount of new scientific literature was published related to dioxins, defined for purposes of this text as the chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphe­ nyls (PCB's) and other compounds that are structurally and toxicologically similar to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7 ,8-TCDD), the most extensively studied and most toxic of this group of chemicals. Dioxins also began to interest not only chemists and toxicologists, but also specialists from diverse disciplines such as wildlife and environmental science, immunology, neuroscience,public health, epidemiology, med­ icine, government, law, sociology, and journalism. Specialists from such varied disciplines, while familiar with their own literature, frequently did not have time to follow the dioxin literature outside their specialty area. In addition, each specialty had unique knowledge, methods, and perspectives. Cross­ disciplinary conversation was necessary, but all too frequently, specialists from the various disciplines did not speak the same language, resulting in misunderstanding.

Overview: The Dioxin Debate (T. Webster, B. Commoner). Risk Assessments of Dioxinlike Compounds (E.K. Silbergeld, P.L. deFur). Environmental Sources, Distribution, and Fate of Polychlorinated, Dibenzodioxins, Dibenzofurans, and Related Organochlorines (D.R. Zook, C. Rappe). Dioxins in Food (J.R. Startin). Toxicology of Dioxins and Related Chemicals (M.J. DeVito, L.S. Birnbaum). Pharmacokinetics of Dioxins and Related Chemicals (J.R. Olson). Immunotoxicology of Dioxins and Related Chemicals (N.I. Kerkvliet). Dose Response Effects of Dioxins: Species Comparison and Implication for Risk Assessment (A.M. Tritscher et al.). Dioxins, Dibenzofurans, PCBs, and Wildlife (J.P. Giesy et al.). Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of Dioxins and other Ah Receptor Agonists (M. Theobald, R.E. Peterson). Aquatic Toxicity of Dioxins and Related Chemicals (M.K. Walker, R.E. Peterson). Dioxins and Mammalian Carcinogenesis (J. Huff). Neurochemical and Behavioral Sequelae of Exposure to Dioxins and PCBs (R.F. Seegal, S.L. Schantz). 7 additional articles. Index.

This comprehensive volume summarizes the current state of scientific knowledge of dioxins and dioxin-like substances such as dibenzofurans, PCBs, and other related chemicals. It documents a variety of toxic effects of highly persistent and synthetic chemicals on laboratory animals, wildlife, and humans.