14.3.4 Reservoir
Dioxins and furans are emitted into the atmosphere through redistribution from the
accumulated sites such as vegetation, soils and landfills (Kulkarni et al. 2008).
During natural calamities like volcanic eruptions, forest fires emit dioxins and furans
accidentally into the environment. Over the past decades, the incidental release of
dioxins and furans from the contaminated biota is increasing. In 2013, the Food
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), an agency of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) determined that the chicken imported to the United States from Chile
was exposed to dioxins. In 2007, the European Commission detected the traces of
dioxins (a contaminant of pentachlorophenol pesticide – no longer used) in guar gum
from India. Pemberthy et al. (2016) showed and evaluated the presence of PCDDs/
PCDFs and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in soybean, olive oil, fish oil,
butter and shrimp used for human consumption in Colombia. Many such historical
proofs manifest many sources of high-level release of dioxins in the food and
threatened the food safety. Researchers reported the release of dioxins and furans
by the microbial activity of chlorinated compounds under suitable environmental
conditions. Composting, sewage decomposition and photolysis of chlorinated
compounds are some typical examples of such sources. Ueno et al. (2005) elucidated
the contamination of the marine environment with PCDDs/PCDFs from highly
industrialized countries of Northeast Asia.
14.4 Dioxins/Furans in the Global Environment
Over the past few decades, several historical incidents have taken place which led to
dioxin and furan contamination, especially during 1920–1970. Industrial activities
involving organic/inorganic chloride are the prime source for the release of dioxins
and furans to the environment. Dioxin/furan pollution is directly or indirectly linked
to the food chain of humans, such as animal and poultry feed and dairy food
products. One of the biggest food recalls in the world has happened in Ireland in
2008 because of chemical contamination in pork meat. The government of Ireland
had to recall tons of pork and other pork-related products when it found out traces of
dioxin over 200 times of the safe limit. Further, the food safety authorities traced
back the incident to the contamination of animal feed with dioxins. In 1999, illegally
disposed dioxin- and furan-contaminated industrial oils led to the contamination of
poultry feed in Belgium. Subsequently, very high levels of dioxins and furans were
found in poultry products.
Dioxin and furan contamination is observed in air, soil, water, plants and animals.
The global government began to investigate the presence of dioxins and furans
contamination in soil, air and water over the course of time to interrogate the severity
of damage caused to the environment and humans. Taiwanese elementary school
children were reported to be exposed to different persistent organic pollutants
through classroom dust at lower than the threshold risk values (Gou et al. 2016).
Bruce-Vanderpuije et al. (2019) reported about the epidemiological studies of
14 Biological Implications of Dioxins/Furans Bioaccumulation in Ecosystems
401
Dioxins and furans are emitted into the atmosphere through redistribution from the
accumulated sites such as vegetation, soils and landfills (Kulkarni et al. 2008).
During natural calamities like volcanic eruptions, forest fires emit dioxins and furans
accidentally into the environment. Over the past decades, the incidental release of
dioxins and furans from the contaminated biota is increasing. In 2013, the Food
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), an agency of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) determined that the chicken imported to the United States from Chile
was exposed to dioxins. In 2007, the European Commission detected the traces of
dioxins (a contaminant of pentachlorophenol pesticide – no longer used) in guar gum
from India. Pemberthy et al. (2016) showed and evaluated the presence of PCDDs/
PCDFs and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in soybean, olive oil, fish oil,
butter and shrimp used for human consumption in Colombia. Many such historical
proofs manifest many sources of high-level release of dioxins in the food and
threatened the food safety. Researchers reported the release of dioxins and furans
by the microbial activity of chlorinated compounds under suitable environmental
conditions. Composting, sewage decomposition and photolysis of chlorinated
compounds are some typical examples of such sources. Ueno et al. (2005) elucidated
the contamination of the marine environment with PCDDs/PCDFs from highly
industrialized countries of Northeast Asia.
14.4 Dioxins/Furans in the Global Environment
Over the past few decades, several historical incidents have taken place which led to
dioxin and furan contamination, especially during 1920–1970. Industrial activities
involving organic/inorganic chloride are the prime source for the release of dioxins
and furans to the environment. Dioxin/furan pollution is directly or indirectly linked
to the food chain of humans, such as animal and poultry feed and dairy food
products. One of the biggest food recalls in the world has happened in Ireland in
2008 because of chemical contamination in pork meat. The government of Ireland
had to recall tons of pork and other pork-related products when it found out traces of
dioxin over 200 times of the safe limit. Further, the food safety authorities traced
back the incident to the contamination of animal feed with dioxins. In 1999, illegally
disposed dioxin- and furan-contaminated industrial oils led to the contamination of
poultry feed in Belgium. Subsequently, very high levels of dioxins and furans were
found in poultry products.
Dioxin and furan contamination is observed in air, soil, water, plants and animals.
The global government began to investigate the presence of dioxins and furans
contamination in soil, air and water over the course of time to interrogate the severity
of damage caused to the environment and humans. Taiwanese elementary school
children were reported to be exposed to different persistent organic pollutants
through classroom dust at lower than the threshold risk values (Gou et al. 2016).
Bruce-Vanderpuije et al. (2019) reported about the epidemiological studies of
14 Biological Implications of Dioxins/Furans Bioaccumulation in Ecosystems
401