Dioxin

From Green Wiki

Dioxin is used as a blanket term for a family of chemical compounds that are formed through combustion, chlorine bleaching and manufacturing processes. The combination of heat and chlorine creates dioxin. Since chlorine is often a part of the earth's environment, natural ecological activity such as volcanic activity and forest fires can lead to the formation of dioxin. Nevertheless, dioxin, a highly carcinogenic and toxic compound, is mostly created by human activity.

[edit] Toxicity

Some dioxin derivatives are carcinogenic, and directly correllated with an increase in the likelihood of attaining cancer. Scientists are working to establish their exact toxicity. The job is made difficult because we are not dealing with pure chemicals, but a mixture, and toxicity depends on the particular molecular arrangement of the compound, that of the highest toxicity is the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-1,4-dioxin. When people say dioxins, they often refer to these chlorinated derivatives, not the compound described in this article.

[edit] Health and Safety

In January, 1997, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New England office and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection announced a precedent-setting program to control levels of dioxin in waste water discharges from Lincoln Pulp & Paper Company of Lincoln Maine. Per EPA, "The dioxin limits in the Lincoln permit are the most stringent ever required of a paper mill by EPA anywhere in the country. Lincoln, an integrated bleached kraft paper mill making recycled products from waste sawdust, has agreed to the terms of federal and state waste water discharge permits that will require the company to achieve the following:

• A non-detect (10 parts per quadrillion, or ppq) dioxin limit at the bleach plant, the most stringent limit ever issued in the country. (The company's current permit has no dioxin limit or requirements.) This is the first permit ever issued that requires the elimination of detectable levels of dioxin at the bleach plant;
• A reopener provision which allows the permit to be modified to include any more stringent national technology-based dioxin controls which may become effective during the life of the permit;
• No increases in dioxin, even if the plant expands production;
• Compliance within one year (the law allows up to 3 years);
• An 80% Total Suspended (TSS) removal limit to assure efficient treatment plant removal of dioxin;
• An extensive biological monitoring program in collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Service;
• A reopener provision which allows for the permit to be modified if future dioxin concentrations in fish warrant further action."

Per EPA: "It sets a high standard for other mills and substantially advances our efforts to achieve Governor King's goal of lifting dioxin related fish consumption advisories and ultimately eliminating the discharge of dioxin."

This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).