US EPA

2210998 

Journal Article 

Potential Health Risk via Inhalationngestion Exposure to Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Dibenzofurans 

Muto, H; Takizawa, Y 

1992 

Yes 

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
ISSN: 0007-4861
EISSN: 1432-0800 

NIOSH/00209903 

49 

5 

701-707 

The health risks associated with the daily intake of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) via inhalation and ingestion were reviewed and compared. Data were assessed in terms of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1746016) (TCDD) equivalents, for cancer risks from inhalation of smoke from rice straw and cigarettes, and a diet of meat, fish, milk, and eggs compared with fruits and vegetables. The estimated PCDD cancer risk from smoking 20 cigarettes per day (about 0.08 picograms per kilogram per day) was higher than that from other inhalation routes. Diets of fatty foods made a greater contribution to PCDD intake than a diet of fruits and vegetables. Epidemiological studies have not shown a clear link between TCDD and cancer or malformations, but evidence for its action as a tumor promoter have been presented. Mortality statistics from Germany also indicated an increased risk of cancer mortality in workers employed at chemical factories producing herbicides contaminated with TCDD. The authors conclude that the cancer risk from smoking is about 6% higher than that from daily intake via food.