Health problems: Seminar looks at threat of dioxins

Various industrial processes release dioxin in Pakistan, no facility to estimate dioxin levels in environment.

KARACHI: The release of harmful chemicals, like dioxin, into the environment can cause numerous health problems, said experts at the concluding session of a three-day workshop at Karachi University’s International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) on Sunday.

Various industrial processes release dioxin in Pakistan, but there is no facility to estimate dioxin levels in environment. Dioxins are generally released when chlorine-containing organic compounds are burnt. Exposure to dioxin can lead to birth defects, cancer, problems with the immune system and diabetes. Chloracne is one such health condition, according to a German expert, Dr Werner Schnabel. It is an acne-like skin condition that is caused by contact with toxic chemicals.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2012.