Metabolism of Dioxins and Dioxins-Like
Compound, Its Regulation
and Toxicological Pathways
14
Prashant Kumar Jaiswal and Jyotsana Gupta
Abstract
Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds are group of chemical compounds that are
highly toxic, persistent environmental pollutants that can affect human health,
wildlife and environment adversely. Dioxins are ubiquitous in environment (soil,
water and air) and are formed mostly as by-products of various industrial
activities such as metallurgy, waste incineration or burning. Environmental
clean-up of dioxins is extremely difficult partly because of its planner structure,
extremely hydrophobic nature, strong adsorption/absorption to the soil. Once
released into the environment dioxins can contaminate the human and animal
food supply. Dioxin mediated toxicity can result in immune-toxicity, induction of
enzyme related disorders, chloracne, carcinogen and birth defects. This chapter
details the structure, source, fate, impact on human health and environment,
metabolism, biodegradation, enzymes and the genes involved during the biodegradation of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds such as dibenzofuran.
14.1 Introduction
Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds are highly toxic and hazardous persistent
organic pollutants (POPs) that are known to adversely affect not only the human
health but also the environment around the universe. Dioxins are biaryl ethers that
can be transported by environment such as air, water, soil and once generated in one
part of the globe can adversely affect the people and wildlife even far from the source
of origin (EPA 2019). Dioxins are formed mostly as by-products of various anthropogenic activities including incineration, industrial processes, high-temperature
processes and production of pesticides. Some of the examples include combustion
of waste generated from hospital, municipal and hazardous activities as well as
P. K. Jaiswal (*) · J. Gupta
Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
A. Singh et al. (eds.), Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7493-1_14
293
Compound, Its Regulation
and Toxicological Pathways
14
Prashant Kumar Jaiswal and Jyotsana Gupta
Abstract
Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds are group of chemical compounds that are
highly toxic, persistent environmental pollutants that can affect human health,
wildlife and environment adversely. Dioxins are ubiquitous in environment (soil,
water and air) and are formed mostly as by-products of various industrial
activities such as metallurgy, waste incineration or burning. Environmental
clean-up of dioxins is extremely difficult partly because of its planner structure,
extremely hydrophobic nature, strong adsorption/absorption to the soil. Once
released into the environment dioxins can contaminate the human and animal
food supply. Dioxin mediated toxicity can result in immune-toxicity, induction of
enzyme related disorders, chloracne, carcinogen and birth defects. This chapter
details the structure, source, fate, impact on human health and environment,
metabolism, biodegradation, enzymes and the genes involved during the biodegradation of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds such as dibenzofuran.
14.1 Introduction
Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds are highly toxic and hazardous persistent
organic pollutants (POPs) that are known to adversely affect not only the human
health but also the environment around the universe. Dioxins are biaryl ethers that
can be transported by environment such as air, water, soil and once generated in one
part of the globe can adversely affect the people and wildlife even far from the source
of origin (EPA 2019). Dioxins are formed mostly as by-products of various anthropogenic activities including incineration, industrial processes, high-temperature
processes and production of pesticides. Some of the examples include combustion
of waste generated from hospital, municipal and hazardous activities as well as
P. K. Jaiswal (*) · J. Gupta
Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
A. Singh et al. (eds.), Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7493-1_14
293