Dioxins and furans (PCDDs and PCDFs)

Properties

  • designation for group of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs)
  • chemically similar chlorinated compounds
  • often binds to dust

Main sources

  • waste incineration (material containing chlorine)
  • private, illegal waste incineration

Thresholds for the reporting requirement of facilities in accordance with Annex 2 PRTRO

(Ordinance on the Register relating to Pollutant Release and the Transfer of Waste and of Pollutants in Waste Water)

  • Air               0,001 kg/year
  • Water          0,001 kg/year
  • Soil              0,001 kg/year

Impacts

  • highly toxic to humans and animals
  • carcinogenic
  • moderately embryotoxic
  • promotes tumours
  • at chronic levels, damages the liver and harms the reproductive system and development of humans and animals
  • high doses cause skin damage (chloracne)
  • accumulates in the food chain (breast milk)

Measures

  • exhaust gas treatment at municipal incineration installations
  • enforcement of the ban on illegal waste incineration

Status and changes

The emissions have been reduced by around 90% since the 1990s.

Contact
Last modification 05.07.2018

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