Issues of Dioxin pollution

For over a decade, environmentalists, natural product manufacturers and NGOs have raised concerns, over, the impact of dioxins on our health.

Dioxins, furans and PCB’s, which are generally referred to as dioxin-like compounds, are highly toxic organochlorines. These compounds are extremely fat seeking. Minute traces of dioxins may have existed before industrialisation, but a huge rise occurred in the late 1940’s along with the expansion of organochlorine manufacture, which started at this time, and the extensive use of pesticides in agriculture worldwide. There are some natural organochlorines in the atmosphere, but considerably greater amounts of artificially produced ones.

Organochlorines are contained in many of the familiar products we find in our shops such as solvents, pesticides, plastics, disinfectants, plastic packaging and chlorine-bleached pulp and paper products such as toilet paper, kitchen roll and some feminine hygiene products.

We all have to take responsibility for the products we use that contribute to the release of dioxins into the environment, and make sure that we do not use products that expose us to dioxins. How many people will be using wood preservatives in their gardens this spring. If the label shows Pentachlorophenol (PCP), it contains dioxin impurities, and so do 2,4,5-T and some other pesticides gardeners will happily spread amongst their plants. How do they dispose of the old tins of pesticides sitting on the shelf in the shed?

Any ingredient that starts with the letters “chloro” suggests the presence of an organochlorine. In making organochlorine products, highly toxic by-products such as dioxins are inadvertently made at the same time and accumulate in the same way as PCBs. Similar major pollution problems also arise when these chlorinated products such as plastics and solvents are burned or incinerated as rubbish results in environmental fallout of dioxin that accumulates in the food chain.

Pesticide use is widespread in the world and responsible for some of the more persistent dioxins and furans in the environment. Making more organic choices in both food and non-food products help to reduce environmental pollution and personal exposure to dioxins.