Environmental exposure to dioxin: the Seveso experience

Andrologia. 2000 Sep;32(4-5):263-70. doi: 10.1046/j.1439-0272.2000.00394.x.

Abstract

The toxicity in humans of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, a man-made compound and environmental pollutant, is still debated. The industrial accident at Seveso, Italy, in 1976 exposed a large population of both sexes and of all ages to a massive concentration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Monitoring of soil and measurement of blood samples allowed classification of the exposed population into three categories: A, B and R (high, medium and low exposure, respectively). This article presents data from longitudinal health monitoring of the population, including liver function, immune function, neurological impairment, dermatological effects, reproductive pathology, and mortality.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Endocrine Glands / drug effects
  • Environmental Pollutants / blood
  • Environmental Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune System / drug effects
  • Italy
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / pathology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Microsomes, Liver / drug effects
  • Microsomes, Liver / enzymology
  • Nervous System / drug effects
  • Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / blood
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / toxicity*
  • Pregnancy
  • Reproduction / drug effects
  • Skin / drug effects
  • Skin / pathology

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins