DIOXINS AND DIOXIN EXPOSURE DEFINED

By TONI ELLINGTON

It was recently reported in this blog that a jury in Harris County, Texas found International Paper, Inc. not responsible for polluting the San Jacinto River with dioxin-laden sludge.  It is possible that some readers may not know what dioxins are and why they are hazardous.

A dioxin is a highly toxic compound which can be unintentionally produced as a byproduct in some manufacturing processes.  Dioxins are often found as byproducts from herbicide production or paper bleaching. Dioxins may look like crystals or may be colorless solids.  Most dioxins are not made intentionally.

Dioxins can enter the human body though breathing contaminated air, drinking contaminated water, or eating contaminated food.  Dioxins may build up in the fatty tissue of animals, especially pork, beef, poultry, fish, or dairy products.

Dioxins cause a number of health effects in humans, including cancers.  Exposure can also cause hormonal changes, skin diseases, genetic defects, and decreased immunities, sometimes for generations.

Dioxins are found throughout the world, and everyone likely has some level of background exposure.  They can be present due to occurrences in nature like forest fires and volcanic eruptions.  Dioxins are also byproducts of operations such as smelting, paper bleaching, and uncontrolled waste incineration.
Among the most well-known claims for dioxin exposure are the claims of veterans of the Vietnam War in the Agent Orange cases.  Agent Orange was manufactured by Monsanto Corporation and Dow Chemical, among others, for the Department of Defense.  It was used as an aerial herbicide by the South Vietnamese and U.S. forces.  The spraying destroyed North Vietnam’s food crops.  However, the chemical also disabled and caused health problems in up to a million people, including U.S. military personnel who served in Vietnam.  Even today, some former U.S. military bases in Vietnam have high levels of dioxins in the soil.  U.S. veterans have filed a number of class action lawsuits against the manufacturers.

For more information on this topic, contact Toni Ellington at (504) 599-8500.