WHAT IS DIOXIN?

Dioxin is one of the most lethal synthetic chemicals known.
According to World Health Organisation figures, a piece of dioxin the size of a small grain of rice, if distributed equally and directly to people, is equivalent to the "allowable" yearly dose for one million people.

Dioxin is formed in industrial processes involving chlorine. Burning organic matter in the presence of chlorine, for example waste incineration, burning PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and chlorine-bleached paper, will produce dioxins.

Some chemicals are contaminated with dioxins, such as pentachlorophenol (PCP), a timber treatment chemical, 245-T and 24D. Both PCP and 245-T are now banned, but 24D is still used in New Zealand.

There are many people in New Zealand exposed to these chemicals through their work places (such as timber treatment workers). Unfortunately most are unable to get government assistance for the medical problems they and their families face.

They have been neglected by the industries who did the polluting and successions of governments alike.

Many workplaces that used these chemicals are now contaminated with dioxin and have not been properly cleaned up. They are a major source of dioxin contamination in New Zealand.

Dioxin does not break down easily and dissolves in body fat, therefore it builds up in fatty tissue of humans and animals and stays there for a long time. The main exposure to dioxin is through eating meat and dairy products such as butter, cheese, meat, milk as well as seafood. However exposure through the skin and inhalation can occur.

Dioxin causes cancer and can interfere with people's immune and hormone systems, which can result in a whole range of health effects, including birth defects, endometriosis, diabetes. A Government report states that /more /than /one/ /in every thousand New Zealanders could be dying from cance/r because of dioxin poisoning.