Review article
p-Dioxin - a highly toxic environmental contaminant
D. Jovanović
; Vojnotehnički institut, Beograd, Srbija
Abstract
p-Dioxin is one of the most potent toxic chemical compounds with the acute oral LD,0 for male guinea-pigs of 0.6 µg/kg. A very slow rate of decomposition in the environment is related to its chemical stability. Two main ways of contamination by this toxin have been described: dissipation of large quantities into the environment (herbicides used in the Vietnam War, and explosion of the chemical plant in Seveso) and continuous contamination by small quantities present as impurities in 2,4,5 T herbicide. Medical experts and the world's community have been greatly disturbed by those cases. From the data on acute toxicity of p-dioxin to various animal species, including monkeys, it is estimated that the human lethal dose could be about 70 µg/kg. The signs and symptoms of human poisoning are: liver disfunction, kidney lesion with haematuria, hypertension, myocardial degeneration, emphysema, gastrointestinal disturbances (diarrhoea and haemathemesis). neurological and psychiatric disorders, and as the most typical sign, chloracne. The other delayed toxic effects (cancerogenic, mutagenic and embryotoxic) have not yet been found in man. After a single dose of the toxin, death occurs from extreme cachexia as is seen in cases of acute radiation disease. Owing to high toxicity and stability this compound represents a permanent environmental hazard and requires constant efforts to be directed against its toxic consequences.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
158463
URI
Publication date:
24.6.1983.
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