Dioxins & furans: Unintentional by-products of chlorine base activities

Dioxins and Furans, more precisely polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCCDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), are two of the twelve persistent organic pollutants (POPs) covered by the Stockholm Convention held in May 2001. The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and environment from POPs. POPs include eight pesticides: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex and toxaphene, two industrial chemicals: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and three unintended by-products: PCCDs, PCDFs and PCBs. In implementing the Convention, Governments of many nations have taken measures to either eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment. This book compiles all the information regarding: Dioxins chemistry, Sources, Health effects, Environmental levels, Fate, New processes, Practices for reducing Dioxin emission. It brings out extensive review of the present status of air, water, soil and food contamination with PCCDs and PCDFs.

Introduction.- Dioxins: Classification.- Properties.- Solubility.- Vapour Pressure.- Partition Coefficient.- Photo Quantum Yields.- Dioxin Emission: Natural Processes.- Anthropogenic Sources.- Chemical.- Biological.- Environmental Levels: Air, Water and Soil.- Commercial Productions.- Retail Food and Humans.- Incineration Processes.- Health Effects: Exposure.- Toxicokinetics.- Absorption.- Distribution.- Metabolism and Excretion.- Toxicity and Mechanism of TCDD Action.- Daily Intake Guidelines for Dioxin-like Compounds.- Environmental Fate: Transport Mechanisms.- Air.- Soil.- Water.- Practices for Reducing Dioxin Emission: Destruction of Dioxins.- Preventing Dioxin Formation.- References.- Index.