Age Specific Dioxin TEQ Reference Range

Abstract

Worldwide public concern of the toxicity of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and Dibenzofurans (PCDFs) has catalyzed extensive research in many toxicologically related areas. However, to date there have been no large-scale studies that have statistically been able to describe the overall dioxin reference levels of the U.S. population. Nor has there been significant information on background levels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD), which has been called the most toxic of the dioxin compounds and contributes the most to the dioxin toxicity equivalent (TEQ).