Environmental exposure to dioxin: the Seveso experience

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.