Dioxins

Definition of dioxins: Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are two groups of tricyclic, chlorine-substituted, organic compounds. The number of chlorine substituents on the benzene rings may range from one to eight, which means 75 theoretical possible PCDDs and 135 possible PCDFs congeners, identified in general by the name “dioxins”. Dioxins are non-polar, lipophilic and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are able to biomagnify and bioconcentrate in the food web and cause a whole spectrum of potentially serious health problems. This is the common definition for dioxins, other definitions can be discussed in the article

Notes

Dioxins
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (above)
C12H4Cl4O2
1,2,3,7,8-Pentachlorodibenzofuran (below)
C12H3Cl5O

Dioxins are mainly formed as an unintentional by-product from combustion processes involving organic matter, chlorine compounds and a catalyst, e.g. copper. Formation of trace concentrations of dioxins may take place in any fire or combustion process based on natural or man-made organic materials. The presence of chlorinated organic compounds, such as chlorobenzenes and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may accelerate the dioxin formation.

Dioxins are extremely insoluble in water. The solubility depends on the congoners of the dioxin mixture, but a typical solubility is around 20ng/l. In natural waters dioxins are therefore mostly associated organic matter and sediments. Dioxins also have a very low volatility, thus in the atmosphere dioxins are mostly attached to fine particles. Besides a few industrial point sources, such as old plants producing magnesium, PVC or paper, the most important direct source of dioxins to the aquatic and marine environment are probably dry deposition of airborne particle-bound dioxins.

Dioxins are very stable chemicals. Generally, dioxins are not degraded by microorganisms, strong acids and bases, heat or light, and remain stable at temperatures below 750oC. The biodegradation is slowest for the high-chlorinated congeners. High concentrations can be found in coastal area sediments; up to 7200 ng/kg (dry weight) has been found in the Scheldt estuary, while in sediments in off shore areas of the North Sea concentrations below 3,2 ng/kg are common. The heavily polluted Norwegian fjords can contain up to 60.000 ng/kg of dioxins in their sediments.

Dioxins have a very high tendency towards bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Therefore high trophic levels, like fish are usually used to monitor dioxin contamination. Herring from the North Sea usually contains between 1 and 2ng/kg (wet weight) of dioxins, which is 5 times less than herring from the heavily polluted Baltic Sea. Marine mammals, the top of the North Sea food chain, contain the the highest concentrations of dioxins: In the Baltic Sea, they can contain up to 150 ng/kg lipid weight in their blubber. Human fat tissue usually contains between 10 and 50 ng/kg lipid weight of dioxins.

The toxicological effects of dioxins have mostly been studied in mammals. They can cause a whole section of heath problems including : liver enlargement, liver lesions, cancer and endocrine disruption. The different forms of dioxins have a different toxicity. The most toxic dioxin is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). The toxicity of the other dioxins are expressed with a number between 0 and 1 which expresses it's relative toxicity to TCDD.