Introduction: Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD) is a highly toxic and persistent organic pollutant. It belongs to a group of compounds known as dioxins, and TCDD is the most toxic among them.
Environmental Effects: TCDD is primarily formed as an unintentional byproduct of industrial processes, including waste incineration and chemical manufacturing. It can persist in the environment for many years. Due to its extreme toxicity, even trace amounts of TCDD in the environment can have a significant impact on ecosystems and human health. TCDD's long environmental persistence makes it a concern for bioaccumulation. It can enter the food chain and accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals, potentially reaching harmful levels for humans who consume contaminated food, such as fish or dairy products. Due to its severe health and environmental risks, TCDD is highly regulated worldwide. Many countries have established stringent limits on its release into the environment.
Associated Diseases: Exposure to TCDD is associated with a range of adverse health effects. It is a known human carcinogen and can lead to various forms of cancer. TCDD exposure can also cause a range of non-cancer health problems, including reproductive and developmental issues, skin disorders, and damage to the immune and nervous systems.
Additional Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: TCDD FactsheetEnvironmental Protection Agency: Risk Assessment for Dioxin
World Health Organization: Dioxins
Table1. Number of differentially expressed gene under TCDD exposure.
| Age | Tissues | Sex | Up-regulated | Down-regulated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Weeks | Blood | 147 | 7 | |
| 360 | 37 | |||
| Liver | 286 | 143 | ||
| 194 | 107 | |||
| 20 Weeks | Blood | 162 | 15 | |
| 32 | 59 | |||
| Liver | 188 | 133 | ||
| 115 | 169 |
Table2. Number of differentially accessible regions under TCDD exposure.
| Age | Tissues | Sex | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Weeks | Liver | 2008 | |
| 2560 | |||
| 20 Weeks | Blood | 1444 | |
| 194 | |||
| Liver | 1320 | ||
| 2445 |
Table3. Number of differentially methylated regions under TCDD exposure.
| Age | Tissues | Sex | Hypomethylated | Hypermethylated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Weeks | Blood | 173 | 201 | |
| 46 | 165 | |||
| Liver | 572 | 510 | ||
| 1030 | 793 |