Re: Analysis of Dioxins in US Food Supply

http://www.dioxinfacts.org/dioxin_health/dioxin_rumors/dioxin_myth.html

The US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) states that 800
parts per trillion are likely necessary to induce chloracne and the
latest CDC data show the average American's body level of this
compound is less than 5.2 parts per trillion.

We are likely exposed to multiple pollutants and some have synergistic
effects. A better way to assess the effects of Persistent Organic
Pollutants (ie PCBs, dioxins, etc) is to review the abstracts at
www.pubmed.com Below is a sample:

Chronic toxicity of dietary 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin to
mink.
Mature female natural dark mink (Mustela vison) were fed 0.0006
(control), 0.016, 0.053, 0.180, or 1.40 ppb 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-
p-dioxin (TCDD) for 131-132 d to ascertain the chronic toxic effects
of TCDD in mink, including reproduction. Consumption of the 1.4 ppb
TCDD diet resulted in lethargy, bloody stools, and 16.7% mortality.
Final mink body weights were inversely proportional to the dietary
TCDD concentrations. Due to subnormal mink breeding, definitive
effects of TCDD on mink reproductive performance were not ascertained;
however, there were significant dose-dependent decreases in kit (young
mink) birth weight and survival from birth to 3 w of age in the groups
that had reproduction. There were also significant differences in
adult minkwhite blood cell counts, plasma total solids, serum iron,
phosphorus, albumin, total protein, total CO2, cholesterol,
osmolality, and anion gap concentrations, and alanine
aminotransaminase activity between the various dietary groups. During
the latter stages alopecia and thickened, deformed, and elongated
toenails were observed in the adult mink fed 1.4 ppb TCDD. At
termination the mink fed 1.4 ppb TCDD had ascites, gastric ulcers,
intestinal hemorrhages, depletion of adipose tissue, and mottled and/
or discolored livers, spleens, and kidneys. Focal lymphocytic
meningitis in region of the olfactory bulb was present in 42% of the
mink fed 1.4 ppb TCDD. These results confirmed the high sensitivity of
mink to TCDD and revealed a toenail abnormality not previously
reported for mink fed TCDD. PMID: 11383652
.