Application of CALUX Bioassay for Determining Dioxin Toxicity Equivalents

There are growing concerns about human health effects of dioxin and dioxin like compounds such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDS), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Earlier studies recognized that 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and structually related dioxin like compounds invoke a number of common toxic responses that are mediated through a high-affinity cytosolic receptor protein, the AhR. Based on studies that Indicate th pivotal role of AhR in mediating most, if not all, of the dioxin toxicity, TCDD equivalency factor (TEF) approach was developed. This approach allowed the expression of toxic potential of a complex mixture as one integrated parameter, the toxic equivalency (TEQ) value.