[Dioxin, poisoning information or brainwashing? On Seveso's and Yushchenko's acne]

The generic term "dioxin" covers more than 400 chemicals of which less than 30 prove to be toxic. Such compounds are involved in environmental pollutions and in food contaminations. Some selected dioxins have also been used as a non-lethal chemical weapon. The assessment of the impact on health needs a precise toxicological identification. Without that basic assessment, a discrepancy may appear between the real risk linked to the exposure and the concerns and fear generated in the population, particularly because in animals the toxic concentrations of dioxins can interfere with some hormonal systems, alter immunity, induce chloracne, and participate in the development of sarcomas, lymphomas and some carcinomas. They may be responsible for some birth defects.