Abstract

Dioxin exhibits serious health effects when it reaches as concentration a few ppt in human body fat. Dioxin is a powerful hormone disrupting chemical. By binding to a cell's hormone receptor, it literally modifies the functioning and genetic mechanism of the cell, causing a wide range of effects, from cancer to reduced immunity, nervous system disorders, miscarriages and birth deformity. Median i-TEQ in adipose tissue of the BienHoa residents is comparable with that of the developed countries while mean i-TEQ of the Bien Hoa residents is higher in both groups, especially older people group. This group has some exceptional cases with i-TEQ value up to 1148.7pg/g. The i-TEQ value in our studies is higher than that conducted by other studies. However, our result supports a conclusion: at present, the dioxin concentration in natural environment and human bodies in Southern Vietnam is only a residue and not higher than that in developed countries.