ABSTRACT

Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs)—altogether also commonly known as “dioxins”—are two groups of tricyclic aromatic compounds containing between one and eight chlorine atoms, thus resulting in 210 congeners (75 PCDDs and 135 PCDFs), different in the number and/or position of chlorine atoms. PCDDs and PCDFs are insoluble in water, exhibit a strong lipophilic character, and are very persistent. PCDDs and PCDFs are not produced intentionally. In fact, their formation and release into the environment occur primarily as a consequence of thermal or combustion processes or as unwanted by-products of industrial processes involving chlorine.