Polychlorinated dibenzofurans
Polychlorinated dibenzofurans
Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (pronunciation: pol-ee-klor-in-ated di-ben-zo-fur-ans), often abbreviated as PCDFs, are a group of polyhalogenated compounds that are significant environmental pollutants.
Etymology
The term "polychlorinated dibenzofurans" is derived from the chemical structure of these compounds. They consist of two benzene rings (dibenzo) connected by a furan ring, with varying numbers of chlorine atoms attached (polychlorinated).
Description
PCDFs are structurally similar to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs). They are produced as by-products in the manufacture of certain organochlorides and during the incineration of chlorine-containing materials. PCDFs are highly toxic and are persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Health Effects
Exposure to PCDFs can lead to a variety of health effects, including chloracne, neurological disorders, and cancer. They are also known to disrupt the endocrine system and impair reproductive health.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Polychlorinated dibenzofurans
- Wikipedia's article - Polychlorinated dibenzofurans
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski