Dioxins in the Environment:  A Review of Trend Data

Abstract

A comprehensive review of available PCDD/F time trend data is presented. This focuses on industrialized countries, drawing heavily on those countries that have been actively involved in PCDD/F monitoring and research, notably Germany, the United States, Sweden, The Netherlands, and the U.K. Information on temporal trends comes from the analysis of dateable deposits (e.g., sediments), retrospective analysis of preserved or archived samples, and ongoing monitoring programs. The data on changes in air concentrations, deposition, sediments, soil, biota, food, and human tissues are reviewed. The evidence for natural input/formation of PCDD/Fs is also briefly reviewed and discussed. Human activity has dominated PCDD/F inputs to the environment this century. Conceptually, it is probably appropriate to consider a 'pulse' of PCDD/Fs arising from human activities entering the environment in the 1930/1940s, peaking in the 1960/1970s, and continuing to a lesser degree today. A series of measures introduced in the past, recently, and anticipated for the future have reduced emissions to the atmosphere of industrialized countries and are projected to continue to reduce emissions over the coming decade. Comprehensive monitoring programs are required to confirm the interpretation of past changes and projected future declines presented here.

Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation: A Review of Pulp and Paper Industry Practices and Opportunities

“…PCDD and PCDF are formed as side products in chlorophenol production and in thermic reactions, such as combustions and chlorinations but also in pulp and paper production (Alcock and Jones 1996;Kim et al 2002). In pulp production, the PCDD and PCDF are mostly formed by condensation of polychlorinated phenoxyphenols in pulping and by chlorination of dibenzofuran and dibenzo-p-dioxin in pulp bleaching (Hrutfiord and Negri 1992;Luthe and Berry 1996;Yunker et al 2002).…”

Reduction of Atmospheric Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins and Dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

“…1 Of the 75 PCDDs and 135 PCDFs, the seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners are most toxic and have been assigned toxic equivalent factors (TEFs). 2,3 Atmospheric transport is considered as a major pathway for the transfer of PCDD/Fs to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.…”

Contamination and Distribution of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) in Agriculture Fields in Ya-Er Lake Area, China

“…In soils, the extremely hydrophobic substances, such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, are very immobile and thus are not readily available for root adsorption or subsequent uptake MuK ller et al, 1994;Fries, 1995). Transport of PCDD/Fs within plants is considered to be unlikely, even over long time intervals Alcock and Jones, 1996). Plant uptake studies with 2,3,7,8-TCDD in growth chambers and 1,2,3,4-TCDD in greenhouse have demonstrated that volatilization from soil, rather than root uptake and translocation, is the main pollution source in plants (McCrady et al, 1990;Bacci et al, 1992).…”