According to the EPA the burning of household waste in gardens is the largest source of dioxins in the U.S.
Image Credit: Shutterstock/Gorich
21 February 2012
Over the course of a lifetime, the average person has nothing to fear from current dioxin exposure levels, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which has published its much anticipated non-cancer science assessment for dioxins - last reviewed in the 1980s.
The agency explained that dioxins and dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) are toxic chemicals that exist naturally and can be released into the environment through forest fires, backyard burning of trash, certain industrial activities, and residue from past commercial waste incineration.
According to the report dioxins and DLCs are widely distributed throughout the environment and typically occur as chemical mixtures. They do not readily degrade. Therefore levels persist in the environment, build up in the food chain, and accumulate in the tissues of animals.
Human exposure to these compounds is said to occur primarily through the ingestion of contaminated foods, although exposures to other environmental media and by other routes and pathways do occur.
According to the EPA, over the past two decades it has worked to reduce emissions from all of the major industrial sources of dioxins. As a result of these efforts, and those of state governments and industry, known and measurable air emissions of dioxins in the U.S. have been reduced by 90% from 1987 levels.
The agency also claimed that the largest remaining source of dioxin emissions is backyard burning of household waste.
The EPA said that it has identified many known sources of dioxins, and working with federal partners, such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as taken steps to address dioxin.
This includes supporting research on dioxin exposure and effects; assessing dioxin human health risks; measuring dioxin levels in the environment, our diet and in our bodies and reducing exposure to dioxin.
Conclusions
The report found that most Americans have low-level exposure to dioxins. Non-cancer effects of exposure to large amounts of dioxin include chloracne, developmental and reproductive effects, damage to the immune system, interference with hormones, skin rashes, skin discoloration, excessive body hair and possibly mild liver damage.
However Stephen Lester, science director of the advocacy group Center for Health, Environment & Justice, said data in the new report show "that the average background exposure of the American public to dioxin in food is very close to or above the EPA new reference dose."
Meanwhile chemical industry trade representative, the American Chemistry Council said that the EPA's analysis was flawed and would provide no public health benefit, since the agency contends that current levels of dioxin do not pose a health concern.
Read More
THE BURNING QUESTION: How is the public perception of waste to energy improving?
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New Waste Incineration Study by Health Protection Agency
The UK's Health Protection Agency is to fund a new study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern well run Municipal Waste Incinerators (MWIs) affect human health
Work to Protect Las Vegas Drinking Water from Landfill
The U.S. EPA is overseeing significant upgrade work to protect local drinking water from closed municipal solid waste landfill site outside of Las Vegas.
Over the course of a lifetime, the average person has nothing to fear from current dioxin exposure levels, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which has published its much anticipated non-cancer science assessment for dioxins - last reviewed in the 1980s.
The agency explained that dioxins and dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) are toxic chemicals that exist naturally and can be released into the environment through forest fires, backyard burning of trash, certain industrial activities, and residue from past commercial waste incineration.
According to the report dioxins and DLCs are widely distributed throughout the environment and typically occur as chemical mixtures. They do not readily degrade. Therefore levels persist in the environment, build up in the food chain, and accumulate in the tissues of animals.
Human exposure to these compounds is said to occur primarily through the ingestion of contaminated foods, although exposures to other environmental media and by other routes and pathways do occur.
According to the EPA, over the past two decades it has worked to reduce emissions from all of the major industrial sources of dioxins. As a result of these efforts, and those of state governments and industry, known and measurable air emissions of dioxins in the U.S. have been reduced by 90% from 1987 levels.
The agency also claimed that the largest remaining source of dioxin emissions is backyard burning of household waste.
The EPA said that it has identified many known sources of dioxins, and working with federal partners, such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as taken steps to address dioxin.
This includes supporting research on dioxin exposure and effects; assessing dioxin human health risks; measuring dioxin levels in the environment, our diet and in our bodies and reducing exposure to dioxin.
Conclusions
The report found that most Americans have low-level exposure to dioxins. Non-cancer effects of exposure to large amounts of dioxin include chloracne, developmental and reproductive effects, damage to the immune system, interference with hormones, skin rashes, skin discoloration, excessive body hair and possibly mild liver damage.
However Stephen Lester, science director of the advocacy group Center for Health, Environment & Justice, said data in the new report show "that the average background exposure of the American public to dioxin in food is very close to or above the EPA new reference dose."
Meanwhile chemical industry trade representative, the American Chemistry Council said that the EPA's analysis was flawed and would provide no public health benefit, since the agency contends that current levels of dioxin do not pose a health concern.
Read More
THE BURNING QUESTION: How is the public perception of waste to energy improving?
New waste to energy facilities may be welcomed in certain countries in Western Europe, but elsewhere it's still a controversial issue. WMW asked several of the leading international industry experts to see how the image of thermal treatment is improving among the public.
New Waste Incineration Study by Health Protection Agency
The UK's Health Protection Agency is to fund a new study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern well run Municipal Waste Incinerators (MWIs) affect human health
Work to Protect Las Vegas Drinking Water from Landfill
The U.S. EPA is overseeing significant upgrade work to protect local drinking water from closed municipal solid waste landfill site outside of Las Vegas.
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