Dioxins: The Lingering Toxins

(Here is a guest post from reader and and parent, Isabella York.)

Dioxins are something you have probably heard a bit about over the years and, if you’re anything like me, you likely wonder what they are, how we and our families are exposed to them, what the dangers and side-effects are, and what we can do to avoid or lessen their impact.  Here are some facts and myths that I uncovered in my own research about these chemicals.

What is dioxin?

Simply put, dioxin is a highly toxic pollutant which is a by-product of manufacturing and waste burning of various types.  They are of a type of pollutant known as “persistent organic pollutants”, meaning that they endure for a long time due to their chemical stability and ability to be absorbed by fatty tissue in the body.  Because of these attributes, they can cause long-lasting effects in humans who have come into contact with them.

Where is dioxin?

Because it is easily absorbed by fatty tissue, the single greatest source of dioxin is our food supply.  While it is possible to come into contact with dioxins in air, water, and soil, the concentration is far less than it is in fatty foods such as meat and dairy products and, of course, the greatest source of fatty foods is fast food.  Just think of the burger you get from the drive-thru and how it is dripping with fat and then consider that the fat in that one burger contains up to 300 times as much as the EPA deems acceptable for a daily dose for an average adult.  As a mother I worry about the fact that my children are ingesting this highly toxic chemical in such high amounts.  It has really made me think twice about that cheeseburger that my daughter is begging for.

What are the effects of exposure to dioxin?

Dioxin exposure has been linked to diseases such as cancer, endometriosis, reproductive system disorders in children, chronic fatigue, immune system deficiencies, nerve and blood disorders, and ADD and hyperactivity in children.

How can we avoid or lessen the impact of dioxin?

Obviously one of my first concerns was how I can reduce the impact of these chemicals on my family.  Our children are precious and deserve to be protected from such dangers as far as we can.  Since such a major source of the exposure comes through food, I have done things like cutting out regular trips to our local fast food restaurant, choosing leaner cuts of meat -- less fat means less dioxin -- and for fattier meat I make sure to cut off as much fat as possible.  You may have heard that microwaving plastic containers or freezing plastic bottles can release dioxin.  Research has revealed that as long as you are using microwave-safe dishes that there is no release of this toxin into our food and there is no evidence that freezing and thawing plastic bottles is a danger.  When in doubt, transfer food to known microwave-safe dishes for heating things up and always follow package instructions.

While dioxin exposure is a great concern, much has been done over the past 30 years to decrease its impact on our environment and our food supply.  Right now one of the greatest environmental sources of dioxin is uncontrolled burning of household trash and forest fires; things which the EPA is working hard to discourage and curb.  Even so, the most important thing that we can do as parents is be aware of what we are giving to our children so as to lessen the impact of these toxins on our little ones to keep them safe and healthy.

The EPA is a good place to learn more about dioxin, its implications and common sources of exposure.

Isabella York became interested in all aspects of a healthy lifestyle including efforts to reduce exposure to environmental toxins through a desire to be the best mother for her son.  She is working to spread the information to others who may be unaware about the potential harm in the everyday foods they are consuming. She is a full time mother and also works for Balsam Hill, a purveyor of artificial christmas trees

image:  by VirtualErn on Flickr under Creative Commons