Everything You Need to Know About Dioxins and Furans

Dioxins and Furans are chemically known as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). They are actually two of the most toxic families of chemicals we know of. They are extremely poisonous to humans, animals and the environment, making dioxin and furan testing, regulation and mitigation extremely important for our planet. Dioxins and furans do occur naturally, but the highest concentrations are created by human industrial processes. They are capable of being transferred into water, air and soil, and then they work their way into domestic livestock, seafoods and humans, and are present throughout the world.

The most common global sources of dioxin and furan emissions are human made. Whether from the improper incineration of waste and other products, the process of paper production from wood pulp, metal smelting or the production of pesticides and herbicides, the most common sources of these highly toxic chemicals are from industrial production. Additionally, combustion engines in automobiles and trucks produce dioxins and furans and pollute the soil, air and water all along the roads and highways around the world..

Industrial production of these chemicals is now illegal in the US but dioxins and furans still invade our land, water, homes, offices and landfills through their usage in products imported from overseas that contain them.

Because these toxic chemicals are so long lasting, they migrate from our soil and water into our foods, especially meat and dairy products, and into our bodies. In order to prevent their toxic effects it is essential to identify high concentrations of these chemicals and remediate them.

Besides their terrible toxicity, dioxins and furans are also very long lasting. They fall into a notorious environmental pollution category called “Persistent Organic Pollutants.” Their persistence in the environment means that they build up over time. We eat them, drink them and breathe them in. People ingest about 90% of our dioxins and furans through our food. The long lasting toxins collect in the fats and fatty byproducts of animals we eat.  

Dioxins and furans health effects on humans are many and varied, but include:

• Liver function problems
• Weakened immunity
• Weakened endocrine system
• Changes in hormone levels
• Skin lesions
• Cancer
• Decreased functioning of the reproductive system
• Improper development of fetal nervous systems  

These and other dioxins and furans health effects pose serious threats to our health and our lives. And because these chemicals are everywhere in our environment, we have all been exposed to them, meaning these toxins already reside in us and cause stress to our systems.  

It is vitally important that we continually expand dioxin and furan testing of our soils, waters and foods. When we identify the sources of these toxins we can ramp up mitigation strategies that will help us remove them from our environments.
Testing processes for these chemicals are very technical and require the most up to date knowledge, experience and laboratory equipment for dioxins and furans testing. Only environmental testing laboratories with the expertise and experience will reliably discern possible exposure and mitigate potential contaminations.

Dioxins and Furans are considered persistent pollutants. One of them, called 2,3,7,8 TCDD, is one of the most toxic substances on the planet. Dioxins and furans are not easy to remediate and can persist in the environment for a very long time. As a result, there is a heightened focus on these substances for environmental site assessment and clean up. They are also increasingly being included in the evaluation for real estate development and purchases. Soils have been dumping grounds for these toxins in past decades making testing to identify their sources essential.

When searching for a reliable testing laboratory it is important to know what kind of testing experience, certifications, equipment and customer service the laboratory has. Torrent Laboratory offers a full list of dioxin and furan testing for soils and water sources with decades of experience. Torrent Laboratory provides the most advanced capabilities in the region. Our full-service lab offers a host of advantages including: 

• Highest certifications 
• Fastest possible TAT in the industry
• Unrivaled technical and customer support
• Unparalleled on-time performance
• Impeccable quality 
• Competitive pricing 
• Convenient geographic location

If you need to know whether your land or water are polluted with these or other contaminants, contact Torrent Laboratory today.