Document wrrmvaGZwGBQvYjO8JLNQmYeD

Dpvortm#nt o f S o c io l S t r i c t ! MISSOURI DIVISION OF HEALTH five* 4o ittd -r Division of Health Advisory on Health Effects of Dioxin "Dioxin" is the term used to describe a number of chemical substances characterized by two phenol rings linked together through two oxygen atoms. When halogenated (the addition of chlorine or bromine atoms to the phenol rings), these dioxins can be extremely toxic to animals and humans. The most important of these dioxins is 2, 3, 7, 8 - tetrachlorodibenzodioxin, illustrated as: CONFIDENTIAL Cl SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. This compound is the most toxic of the dioxin group and has been shown to have severe acute and chronic effects on health. Acute toxicity of 2, 3, 7, 8 - TCDD, as determined in laboratory animals, is exceeded only by botulinum, tetanus and diphtheria toxin. In other words, 2, 3, 7, 8 - TCDD is 2000 times more toxic than strychnine and 150,000 times more toxic than cyanide. As compared to other poisons, very small amounts of 2, 3, 7, 8 TCDD can be lethal. Chronic effects of 2, 3 , 7 , 8 - TCDD can be many and varied. From past incidents, these effects may include: (1) dermatologic syndromes, for example, chloracne and porphyria cutanea tarda; (2) hepatic (liv e r) problems, for example, necrosis, Insufficiency and bile duct hyperplasia and increased levels of serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphotase which Indicate some damage to the liv e r; (3) renal (kidney) problems, for example, decreased kidney function and excretion; (4) endo crine (hormone) effects, for example, acne, hirsutism (increased hair growth) and loss of lib id o (sex drive); (5) immunologie effects, for example, increased 236632 su sc e p tib ility to bacteriological in fe ctio n ; (6) hematologic (blood) effects, fo r example, anemia, thrombocytopenia (increased c lo ttin g time) and leukopenia (decreased white blood c e l l s ) ; (7) g a s tr o in te s tin a l (stomach and in testin e) e ffe cts, fo r example, decreased absorption o f n u trie n ts; and, (8) neuropsychiatric (mental and nerve) e ffe c ts, fo r example, behavioral changes (increased i r r i t a b i l i t y and re stle ssn e ss) and weakness and pain or la c k of sensation in the lower extrem ities. A d d itio n a lly , low -level exposure to 2, 3, 7, 8 - TCDD may involve teratogenic (b irth defects) and fe to to x ic (spontaneous abortion or s t i ll b i r t h ) e ffe cts; carcinogenic (cancer causing) a c t iv it y has been observed in animal studies. The D iv isio n o f Health' advises you to avoid exposure to known sources o f dioxin; j the D iv isio n also advised you to contact your fam ily physician i f you think you have suffered any of the above lis t e d symptoms as a re su lt o f past exposure to dioxin-containing m aterial. The D iv is io n o f Health w ill consult with your physician, i i f requested. j SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. III ! 236633