Description: Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) are compounds that are highly toxic environmental persistent organic pollutants. Dioxins have different toxicity depending on the number and position of the chlorine atoms. Because dioxins refer to such a broad class of compounds that vary widely in toxicity, the concept of toxic equivalency factor (TEF) has been developed to facilitate risk assessment and regulatory control. Toxic equivalence factors (TEFs) exist for seven congeners of dioxins, ten furans and twelve PCBs as identified in a World Health Organization Report. The reference congener is the most toxic dioxin 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) which per definition has a TEF of one. This compound is extremely stable and consequently tends to accumulate in the food chain having a half-life of 7 to 9 years in humans. This list of DLCs are those for which TEFs were reported in the WHO report.
Number of Chemicals: 29