[Small handbook of dioxin et alias]

Dioxin is the common name for a series of 75 dibenzodioxins, 135 dibenzofurans and 209 PCBs. Among these chemicals, less than 30 prove to be toxic. Those molecules can act as hormone disrupters, suppress the immune system, alter the physiology of the sebaceus follicle and participate in the carcinogenesis of sacromas, lymphomas and some carcinomas. They may be responsible for some birth defects. In some regions of the world, dioxins and dioxin-like chemicals are present in the environment, the food chain and body tissues at doses at or near at the level supposed to cause harm to public health.