Environmental Exposure and Racial Disparities
Dioxin
Eighteen dioxins,
polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and coplanar polychlorinated
biphenyls (coplanar PCBs) are examined in the National Report.
This group of dioxin and dioxin-like chemicals includes TCDD,
the most toxic of these chemicals and the one used as the standard
against which all other chemicals are measured for causing cancer.
None of these chemicals are detected in more than half of the
people in each racial/ethnic group. However, at the 95th percentile,
eight of the chemicals are detected.
At the 95th percentile, one chemical is detected only in Blacks
and seven are detected in all groups. Of the seven chemicals,
six are detected at the highest level in Blacks. Among the six
chemicals detected at the highest level in Blacks at the 95thpercentile,
the chemical levels are up to, on average, 48% greater than
in Mexican-Americans and Whites.
These chemicals are produced primarily though burning. The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency database of dioxin
sources indicates the five greatest sources of dioxins and
dioxin-like chemicals are municipal solid waste incinerators,
backyard refuse barrel burning, medical waste incinerators,
secondary copper smelters, and cement kilns. Environmental justice
activists have targeted incinerators, smelters, and kilns as
sources of chemicals that pose a threat to their communities.
The National Report is evidence that a portion of the Black
population is exposed to disproportionately high levels of dioxins
and dioxin-like compounds.
Dioxins, PCDFs, and coplanar PCBs
(note - empty spaces indicate non-detect)
| Dioxins, PCDFs, and coplanar
PCBs |
Race/
ethnicity |
Geometric mean
(pg/g) |
95th percentile
(pg/g) |
Findings |
1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-Octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
(OCDD) |
Black |
|
1120 |
The OCCD level in Blacks at the
95th percentile is up to 32% greater than in Mexican-Americans
and Whites.
OCDD is found in all groups at the 75th
percentile.
|
| Mexican-American |
|
940 |
| White |
|
848 |
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-Heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
(HpCDD) |
Black |
|
125 |
The HpCDD level in Mexican-Americans
at the 95th percentile is up to 25% greater than
in Blacks and Whites. HpCDD is found in all groups at the
75th percentile. |
| Mexican-American |
|
132 |
| White |
|
106 |
1,2,3,6,7,8-Hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
(HxCDD) |
Black |
|
81.6 |
The HxCDD level in Blacks at
the 95th percentile is up to 41% greater than in
Mexican-Americans and Whites. HxCDD is found in all groups
at the 75th percentile. |
| Mexican-American |
|
58.0 |
| White |
|
74.3 |
1,2,3,7,8,9-Hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
(HxCDD) |
Not detected in up to 5% of U.S.
population |
1,2,3,7,8-Pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
(PeCDD) |
Not detected in up to 5% of U.S.
population |
2,3,7,8,-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
(TCDD) |
Not detected in up to 5% of U.S.
population |
1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-Octachlorodibenzofuran
(OCDF) |
Not detected in up to 5% of U.S.
population |
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-Heptachlorodibenzofuran
(HpCDF) |
Black |
|
28.2 |
The HpCDF level in Blacks at
the 95th percentile is up to 62% greater than in
Mexican-Americans and Whites.
HpCDF is detected at the 95th
percentile in Mexican-Americans and Whites, but is detected
at the 90th percentile in Blacks.
|
| Mexican-American |
|
19.7 |
| White |
|
17.4 |
1,2,3,4,7,8-Hexachlorodibenzofuran
(HxCDF) |
Black |
|
14.3 |
HxCDF is detected at the 95th
percentile only in Blacks. |
| Mexican-American |
|
|
| White |
|
|
1,2,3,6,7,8-Hexachlorodibenzofuran
(HxCDF) |
Not detected in up to 5% of U.S.
population |
1,2,3,7,8,9-Hexachlorodibenzofuran
(HxCDF) |
Not detected in up to 5% of U.S.
population |
1,2,3,7,8-Pentachlorodibenfuran
(PeCDF) |
Not detected in up to 5% of U.S.
population |
2,3,4,6,7,8-Hexachlorodibenzofuran
(HxCDF) |
Not detected in up to 5% of U.S.
population |
2,3,4,7,8-Pentachlorodibenfuran
(PeCDF) |
Black |
|
16.6 |
The PeCDF level in Blacks at
the 95th percentile is up to 7% greater than in
Whites.
PeCDF is not detected in Mexican-Americans,
but is found at the 95th percentile in Blacks
and Whites.
|
| Mexican-American |
|
|
| White |
|
15.5 |
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzofuran
(TCDF) |
Not detected in up to 5% of U.S.
population |
3,3',4,4'5,5'-Hexachlorobiphenyl
(PCB 169) |
Black |
|
51.1 |
The PCB 169 level in Blacks at
the 95th percentile is up to 65% greater than in
Mexican-Americans and Whites.
PCB 169 is detected at the 95th
percentile in Mexican-American and the 90th percentile
in Blacks and Whites.
|
| Mexican-American |
|
31.0 |
| White |
|
45.3 |
3,3',4,4,'5-Pentachlorobiphenyl
(PCB 126) |
Black |
|
120 |
The PCB 126 level in Blacks at
the 95th percentile is up to 82% greater than in
Mexican-Americans and Whites.
PCB 126 is detected in all groups at the
75th percentile.
|
| Mexican-American |
|
66.1 |
| White |
|
67.8 |
3,4,4',5-Tetrachlorobiphenyl
(PCB 81) |
Not detected in up to 5% of U.S.
population |
|
