Editing Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (section)

==Historical perspective==
[[File:2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo(b,e)(1,4)dioxine 200.svg|right|220px|thumb|Structure of ''2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin'' (TCDD)]]

Low concentrations of dioxins existed in nature prior to [[industrialization]] as a result of natural combustion and geological processes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/environment/dioxin/pdf/task6.pdf |title=Compilation of EU Dioxin Exposure and Health Data |access-date=2007-06-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616132941/http://ec.europa.eu/environment/dioxin/pdf/task6.pdf |archive-date=2007-06-16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/dioxinqa.html#g9 |title=FDA/CFSAN&nbsp;— Questions and Answers about Dioxins |access-date=2007-06-04 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070601173236/http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/dioxinqa.html#g9 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-06-01}}</ref> Dioxins were first unintentionally produced as by-products from 1848 onwards as [[Leblanc process]] plants started operating in Germany.<ref name="weber2008"/> The first intentional synthesis of chlorinated dibenzodioxin was in 1872. Today, concentrations of dioxins are found in all humans, with higher levels commonly found in persons living in more industrialized countries. The most toxic dioxin, [[2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin|2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin]] (TCDD), became well known as a contaminant of [[Agent Orange]], a herbicide used in the [[Malayan Emergency]] and the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name="pmid16445906">{{cite journal | vauthors = Schecter A, Birnbaum L, Ryan JJ, Constable JD | title = Dioxins: an overview | journal = Environ Res | volume = 101 | issue = 3 | pages = 419–28 | date = July 2006 | pmid = 16445906 | doi = 10.1016/j.envres.2005.12.003 | bibcode=2006ER....101..419S}}</ref> Later, dioxins were found in [[Times Beach]], [[Missouri]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/times/03.htm |title= Times Beach Record of Decision Signed |publisher=[[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] |access-date=2007-06-04 }}</ref> and [[Love Canal]], [[New York (state)|New York]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/lovecanal/04.htm |title=Love Canal Record of Decision Signed | publisher=[[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] |access-date=2007-06-04 }}</ref> and [[Seveso]], [[Italy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu21le/uu21le09.htm |title=4 Seveso: A paradoxical classic disaster |access-date=2007-06-04 |archive-date=2010-05-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527175648/http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu21le/uu21le09.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> More recently, dioxins have been in the news with the poisoning of President [[Viktor Yushchenko]] of [[Ukraine]] in 2004,<ref name="nature.com">{{cite journal |url=http://www.nature.com/news/2004/041122/full/news041122-8.html |title=Yushchenko's acne points to dioxin poisoning |year=2004 |doi=10.1038/news041122-8 |access-date=2009-01-14 |last1=Castellani |first1=Federica |journal=Nature |pages=news041122–8 }}</ref> the Naples Mozzarella Crisis,<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/italys-toxic-waste-crisis-the-mafia-ndash-and-the-scandal-of-europes-mozzarella-799289.html?service=Print | title=Italy's toxic waste crisis, the Mafia&nbsp;– and the scandal of Europe's mozzarella | access-date=2008-03-28 | work=The Independent | location=London | first1=Michael | last1=McCarthy | first2=John | last2=Phillips | date=2008-03-22 | archive-date=2013-04-19 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419030456/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/italys-toxic-waste-crisis-the-mafia-ndash-and-the-scandal-of-europes-mozzarella-799289.html?service=Print | url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[2008 Irish pork crisis]], and the [[German feed crisis|German feed incident]] of 2010.<ref name=eu>{{Cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/food/committees/regulatory/scfcah/animal_health/presentations/1112012011_dioxin_germany.pdf |title=Dioxin in Feed Fats from Schleswig-Holstein |access-date=2011-11-27 |archive-date=2013-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509160331/http://ec.europa.eu/food/committees/regulatory/scfcah/animal_health/presentations/1112012011_dioxin_germany.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>