Recent developments and prospects of dioxins and furans remediation

Rapid urbanization and industrialization of anthropogenic activities have exerted immense pressure on the environment. Polyhalogenated organic compounds, especially dioxins and furans are regarded as ubiquitously persistent environmental pollutants in the ecosystem. The recalcitrant nature of dioxins and furans induce toxicity in both humans and wildlife. Dioxins and furans are generated by defective technological chemical processes that occur during the manufacture of herbicides and pesticides, use of fertilizers, bleaching of paper and wood pulp and incomplete combustion process. However, incineration and incomplete combustion of solid waste are the main cause for the discharge of dioxins and furans to the environment. During incineration and incomplete combustion, noxious flue gas and ashes are released into the atmosphere and contaminate the soil and water systems; thereby affecting the ecology. According to World Health Organization fact sheet 2016, more than 90% of human exposure to dioxins is through the food chain, especially from dairy products, seafood and meat. These pollutants are mutagenic, carcinogenic, immunotoxic and teratogenic for lower and higher forms of life i.e. microorganisms to humans. This review describes the sources of dioxins and furans pollution, hazardous effects on the ecosystem and recent techniques to minimize and treat dioxins and furans contaminants in the environment. This paper also previews the significance of conventional and latest remediation techniques prevailing around the globe for treating dioxins and furans entry into the ecosystem.