Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs)

What are Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs)?

CDDs are a family of 75 chemically related compounds commonly known as chlorinated dioxins. One of these compounds is called 2,3,7,8-TCDD. It is one of the most toxic of the CDDs and is the one most studied.

In the pure form, CDDs are crystals or colorless solids.

CDDs enter the environment as mixtures containing a number of individual components. 2,3,7,8-TCDD is odorless and the odors of the other CDDs are not known.

CDDs are not intentionally manufactured by industry except for research purposes. They (mainly 2,3,7,8-TCDD) may be formed during the chlorine bleaching process at pulp and paper mills. CDDs are also formed during chlorination by waste and drinking water treatment plants. They can occur as contaminants in the manufacture of certain organic chemicals. CDDs are released into the air in emissions from municipal solid waste and industrial incinerators.

Related Resources for Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs)

• Update to the ATSDR Policy Guideline for Dioxins and Dioxin-Like Compounds in Residential Soil
• Interaction Profile

Succintly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for mixtures of hazardous substances.
• Persistent Chemicals found in Breast Milk
• Persistent Chemicals found in Fish
• Minimal Risk Level (MRL)
  The MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse, non-cancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. The information in this MRL serves as a screening tool to help public health professionals decide where to look more closely to evaluate possible risk of adverse health effects from human exposure.
• National Exposure Registry (NER)
  Database of individuals who have been exposed to a hazardous substance at selected locations. All data collected are confidential.
• National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals
  Report provides an ongoing assessment of the exposure of the U.S. population to environmental chemicals using biomonitoring.
  
  • Results by Chemical Group
  • Fact Sheet
  [PDF, 75 KB]
• Public Health Statement
  Summary about a hazardous substance taken from Chapter One of its respective ATSDR Toxicological Profile.
• ToxFAQ
  Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions about a contaminant and its health effects.
• ToxFAQs: Chemical Agent Briefing Sheets (CABS)
  Briefing sheets that provide current and relevant scientific information on specific high profile chemicals.
  
• Toxicological Profile
  Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for a hazardous substance.