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Dioxins and Related Compounds as Issues of International Concern

  • Chapter
Human and Environmental Risks of Chlorinated Dioxins and Related Compounds

Part of the book series: Environmental Science Research ((ESRH,volume 26))

Abstract

In recent years, there has been ever-increasing concern for the real and potential hazards posed to man and the environment by polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) a class of organochlorine contaminants comprising 75 congeners, the most notorious of which is 2,3,7,8-TCDD. International attention on the dioxins was focused in 1973 by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences conference (Huff and Wassom, 1973). Intensive investigations have followed. Physical and chemical characteristics of the dioxins that influence their distribution and persistence in the environment include:

  1. 1.

    Relatively insoluble in water, but soluble in lipids

  2. 2.

    Easily absorbed onto soil

  3. 3.

    Environmentally stable

  4. 4.

    Metabolized slowly

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Protection Branch, Department of National Health and Welfare Health Protection Branch, Ottawa, Canada

    E. Somers (Environmental Health Directorate) & V. M. Douglas (Environmental Health Directorate)

Authors
  1. E. Somers
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  2. V. M. Douglas
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dynamac Corp Enviro Control Division, Rockville, Maryland, USA

    Richard E. Tucker  & Allan P. Gray  & 

  2. U.S. Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C., USA

    Alvin L. Young

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© 1983 Plenum Press, New York

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Somers, E., Douglas, V.M. (1983). Dioxins and Related Compounds as Issues of International Concern. In: Tucker, R.E., Young, A.L., Gray, A.P. (eds) Human and Environmental Risks of Chlorinated Dioxins and Related Compounds. Environmental Science Research, vol 26. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3599-3_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3599-3_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3601-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3599-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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