Dioxin sources include waste burning, industrial processes, and natural events. Industrial pollution controls have reduced emissions, but uncontrolled burning and contaminated food remain significant sources of exposure.
Significant sources of dioxins include the uncontrolled burning of waste materials, industrial processes and natural events such as volcanic eruptions. The main sources can vary greatly from region to region. In the European Union, for example, strict pollution legislation limits industrial sources, while some developing nations have looser laws and their factories produce large quantities of dioxin. These numbers also change over time in response to regulation and changing industrial processes. The most recent information for a particular country may be available through an environmental agency such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States.
Dioxins are chemical compounds known to be hazardous to human health and the environment. They are often produced as a byproduct of combustion, but can also be formed during some chemical processes. Part of the so-called “dirty dozen” pollutants, their numbers are closely followed around the world due to their significant deleterious effects on health. Government agencies concerned with health and pollution monitor concentrations and work to develop better pollution controls to limit dioxin pollution.
For much of the 20th century, industrial processes were the primary sources of dioxins, including paper milling, industrial waste incineration, chemical manufacturing, smelting, and refining. In response to the rising levels of dioxin associated with such activities, government agencies in many nations have begun cracking down on industrial pollution. The result has been a significant reduction in dioxin emissions from these sources. Companies use a variety of pollution controls to limit overall production and control their dioxins to prevent contamination.
Burning waste in uncontrolled environments such as burn piles and backyard trash cans is a significant source of dioxins. The military also uses burnt barrels to dispose of waste while in the field, and these can increase the chemical load. Natural processes such as forest fires and volcanoes are also sources of dioxins; these are not as controllable as industrial processes, and thus their pollution output as a percentage of overall dioxin sources increased as industrial pollution began to decline.
The most common source of dioxin exposure for the general public is contaminated food. Careful regulation of the food supply together with regular testing can reduce but not eliminate the risks. Some occupations increase the risk of exposure because people are exposed to dioxin sources such as industrial processes that always produce at least some of these compounds, even with pollution controls. There are also reservoirs of dioxin contamination from times when these compounds were widely produced which may be a significant source in some regions.
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