Environmental toxicology of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3431525· OSTI ID:6849046

Vanden Heuvel, J P ^[1]; Lucier, G ^[2]

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1. Laboratory of Biochemical Risk Analysis, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States) Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
2. Laboratory of Biochemical Risk Analysis, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)

Few environmental compounds have generated as much interest and controversy within the scientific community and in the lay public as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Their ubiquitous presence in the environment and the risk of accidental exposure has raised concern over a possible threat of PCDDs or PCDFs to human health. The most extensively studied and potent isomer s 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin). Dioxin is a multisite toxicant in laboratory rodents resulting in a number of tissue-, species-, and sex-dependent responses. Much has been learned about the mechanism of dioxin's effects, especially for the induction of cytochrome P-450 enzymes. Binding of PCDDs and PCDFs to a receptor protein, termed the dioxin or Ah receptor, is necessary for most biological and toxic responses. The most common toxic response used for evaluating the human health risk posed by PCDDs and PCDFs is the hepatocarcinogenic response observed primarily in rodents. Despite extensive research efforts, the effects of PCDDs and PCDFs on humans are not well characterized. However, available data indicate there is good agreement between known effects of dioxin in laboratory animals and those described in epidemiological studies for effects in humans. The sequence in events initiated by the Ah receptor interacting with dioxin-responsive genes and ending with altered patterns of differentiation and growth must be sought in order to understand tissue, species, sex, and interindividual variation in biological responses and the health risk posed by PCDDs and PCDFs. 77 refs., 5 figs., 7 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6849046
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives; (United States) Vol. 100; ISSN EVHPAZ; ISSN 0091-6765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CARCINOGENESIS
CARCINOMAS
CYTOCHROMES
DIOXIN
DISEASES
ENZYME INDUCTION
GENE REGULATION
HEPATOMAS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LABORATORY ANIMALS
NEOPLASMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
PIGMENTS
PROTEINS
SEX DEPENDENCE