Biological Implications of Dioxins/Furans
Bioaccumulation in Ecosystems
14
Jose Gnanaleela Aswin Jeno, Ravichandran Rathna, and
Ekambaram Nakkeeran
Abstract
Dioxins and furans are a class of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic organic
pollutants in the environment that have garnered attention within the scientific
community. This chapter encompasses the bioaccumulation of dioxins/furans in
the ecosystem. Further, information on the source and exposure of dioxins/furans
is discussed. In addition, the presence of dioxins/furans in the global environment
and its regulatory responses are also presented. Persistent dioxins/furans undergo
bioaccumulative and biomagnification in the food chain and led to metabolic
transformations in human. A detailed compilation of health effects in humans is
also elaborated.
Keywords
Bioaccumulation · Biomagnification · Dioxins/furans · Global environment ·
Health effects
14.1 Introduction
The continuous expansion of civilizations around the globe has resulted in several
scientific developments on one aspect, whereas the other side causes deleterious
environmental damages. Rapid urbanization, deforestation, population explosion,
industrialization and pollution accelerate the accumulation of persistent organic
pollutants in the environment. Persistent organic pollutants (POP) are a peculiar
type of pollutants that have garnered huge attention within the scientific community
J. G. A. Jeno · R. Rathna · E. Nakkeeran (*)
Department of Biotechnology, Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering (Autonomous),
Sriperumbudur Tk, Tamil Nadu, India
e-mail: nakkeeran@svce.ac.in
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
R. Prasad (ed.), Environmental Pollution and Remediation, Environmental and
Microbial Biotechnology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5499-5_14
395
Bioaccumulation in Ecosystems
14
Jose Gnanaleela Aswin Jeno, Ravichandran Rathna, and
Ekambaram Nakkeeran
Abstract
Dioxins and furans are a class of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic organic
pollutants in the environment that have garnered attention within the scientific
community. This chapter encompasses the bioaccumulation of dioxins/furans in
the ecosystem. Further, information on the source and exposure of dioxins/furans
is discussed. In addition, the presence of dioxins/furans in the global environment
and its regulatory responses are also presented. Persistent dioxins/furans undergo
bioaccumulative and biomagnification in the food chain and led to metabolic
transformations in human. A detailed compilation of health effects in humans is
also elaborated.
Keywords
Bioaccumulation · Biomagnification · Dioxins/furans · Global environment ·
Health effects
14.1 Introduction
The continuous expansion of civilizations around the globe has resulted in several
scientific developments on one aspect, whereas the other side causes deleterious
environmental damages. Rapid urbanization, deforestation, population explosion,
industrialization and pollution accelerate the accumulation of persistent organic
pollutants in the environment. Persistent organic pollutants (POP) are a peculiar
type of pollutants that have garnered huge attention within the scientific community
J. G. A. Jeno · R. Rathna · E. Nakkeeran (*)
Department of Biotechnology, Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering (Autonomous),
Sriperumbudur Tk, Tamil Nadu, India
e-mail: nakkeeran@svce.ac.in
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
R. Prasad (ed.), Environmental Pollution and Remediation, Environmental and
Microbial Biotechnology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5499-5_14
395