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Dioxins
I recently came across an article about Dioxins and their effect on the body, can you tell me more about the health problems relating to Dioxins.
Dioxins are a family of chlorinated chemicals which are considered stable, however do remain in the environment for a long period of time. Dioxins include the polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs or dioxins), the closely related polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs or furans) and certain polychlorinated biphenyls (dioxin-like PCBs, or PCBs). They are a by-product of combustion processes such as burning of household, industrial and hospital wastes as well as sewerage sludge, smelting and chlorine bleeching (paper pulp). These chemicals are then released into the air we breathe and deposited on to farming soil and plants where they are found in trace amounts. The animals then consume feed from these environments and the dioxins are then found within their fat deposits.
How Dioxins affect your health
Dioxins are absorbed into animal fat and accumulate in concentration over time, resulting in the concern for health problems. Examples of foods that are most likely to contain dioxins are: dairy products, meat and meat products, fish and eggs. Foods such as cheese, butter, some types of fish, pates, bacon and sausages that are generally high in animal fat would be likely to have higher dioxin contamination levels than products low in animal fats. Most research shows that consuming of dioxins via the diet is a small risk, however exposure to the chemical via inhalation may compound the detrimental effects.
Short-term exposure of humans to high levels of dioxins may result in skin lesions, patchy darkening of the skin, and altered liver function. Long-term exposure is linked to impairment of the immune system, the developing nervous system, the endocrine system and reproductive functions.For further information see the Ask a Naturopath.com webpage concerning chemical sensitivities and detoxification