DIOXIN PREVENTION AND MEDICAL WASTE INCINERATORS

CHLORINATED DIOXINS and related compounds are extremely potent toxic s ubstances, producing effects in humans and animals at extremely low do ses. Because these compounds are persistent in the environment and acc umulate in the food chain, they are now distributed globally, and ever y member of the human population is exposed to them, primarily through the food supply and mothers' milk An emerging body of information sug gests that dioxin contamination has reached a level that may pose a la rge-scale, long-term public health risk Of particular concern are diox in's effects on reproduction, development, immune system function, and carcinogenesis. Medical waste incineration is a major source of dioxi ns. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, as the dominant source of organi cally bound chlorine in the medical waste stream, is the primary cause of ''iatrogenic'' dioxin produced by the incineration of medical wast es. Health professionals have a responsibility to work to reduce dioxi n exposure from medical sources. Health care institutions should imple ment policies to reduce the use of PVC plastics, thus achieving major reductions in medically related dioxin formation.