Levels and Patterns of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Dibenzofurans in Sediments from Korean Coast

PCDDS and PCDFs are very stable chcmicals and have very long residence times in the environment and in organisms, including humans. Their hydrophobicity promotes accumulation in sediments and organisms, resulting in high concentrations in both sediments and organisms. Among toxicological effects reports arc teratogenicity, reduce reproduction, liver toxicity, decreased growth rate and behavioral changes (Zeise et al., 1990; Huff, 1992). PCDDs/DFs are inadvertently produced from various combustion sources and manufacturing processes, such as municipal solid waste incineration (Olie et at., 1977), motor vehicles (Marklund et al., 1987), steel mills (Tysklind et al., 1989), and chemical production processes (Hutzinger et al., 1985). (omitted)