Human exposure to dioxin from combustion sources
Because of their extreme toxicity, much concern and debate has arisen about the nature and extent of human exposure to dioxin. Since municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerators are known to emit polychorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polycholorinated dibenzofurnas (PCDFs) many people who live near MSW incinerators fear that they will be exposed to high levels of dioxin and subsequently develop cancer. What is often overlooked in this debate, however, is the fact that the general population is continuously being exposed to trace amounts of dioxin as exemplified by the fact that virtually all human adipose tissue samples contain dioxin at levels of 3 parts per trillion (ppt) or greater. This paper provides a perspective on MSW incineration as a source of human exposure to dioxin by comparing this exposure source with exposure to background environmental contamination and evaluates some of the potential key sources of PCDD/PCDF input into the enviroment. 32 refs., 3 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6768385
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8806227-1; ON: DE88013825; TRN: 88-034439
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Symposium on emissions from combustion processes, Toronto, Canada, 5 Jun 1988; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
FORECASTING
DIOXIN
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
FURANS
COMBUSTION
FOOD CHAINS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INCINERATORS
MUNICIPAL WASTES
PUBLIC HEALTH
RISK ASSESSMENT
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
POPULATIONS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
570000 - Health & Safety
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)