Message from charlie.cray@green2.greenpeace.org

[charlie.cray@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      dioxin-l@essential.org
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DOW SCARFS UP NEW CHEAP, EASY DIOXIN TEST
 
(First they poison us with it, now they either want us to pay
them to find out how bad it is or keep us from knowing)
 
>From Waste Age, 5/96, p. 34
 
Dioxin Detection Technology Receives U.S. Patent
 
A company based in Ithaca, N.Y. has developed the technology to
detect dioxin-like compounds commonly found in environmental
pollutants (sic) from the incineration of plastics and in paper
production and recycling.  Scientists at Paracelsian, Inc., say
that the toxic effects of dioxin and related compounds are
mediated by a protein present in cells called the aryl
hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor.  The company's Ah-immunoassay (immune
system analysis) technology was designed to be selective for the
toxic members of the dioxin family by using the transformation of
the Ah receptor as a biosensor, says Paracelsian president, Keith
A. Rhodes.  
 
The new technology indicates the toxicity of a test sample in
terms of fraction equivalents.  Due to the simplicity of the
system, Rhodes says, hundreds of air, soil food, or water samples
may be tested in a single day at field locations.  He adds that
two formats of the test are designed to be low cost and can be
performed in several hours by non-technical personnel.  Dow
Environmental (Pittsburgh), a division of Dow Chemical Co.
(Midland, Mich.) has obtained the nonexclusive license and the
option for an exclusive license to commercialize the technology.
 
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