[Dioxin-l] Nature and halogens

[G. De Mey]

For whom the bell tolls

Ronald Shore takes a leap from CH3Br and CH3Cl and VHOC (volatile halogenated
organic compounds) to dioxin. Nature does not warrant alchemy.

GDM

Ronald Shore schreef:

> Some time back there was some discussion of naturally occurring
> halogen-containing organic compounds, and then the topic seemed to fade
> away.
>
> I may have missed mention of it, so excuse any duplication.  But there is a
> paper in Nature (v.403, p. 292) describing coastal salt marshes as
> significant sources of methyl chloride and bromide.  This account adds
> support to the view by some of those who have contributed to the list (but
> seem to have been shouted down) that naturally occurring haloorganic
> materials are not absent in our environment, but rather have been present
> for a long time.  It is too the case that through naturally occurring high
> energy events (eg volcanoes, fires, lightning) and other chemistry
> (atmospheric oxidants, mineral surfaces) they can be converted to a range of
> other substances, most of them benign, but some long lasting and toxic.
>
> Now it is clear that dioxins and related materials are toxic, and that they
> are produced through the combustion of waste.  Accordingly suitable waste
> treatments must be developed, and treatments must be overseen by the proper
> bodies.
>
> But it must be recognized that nature produced these materials long before
> we did, and always will.  The elimination of chloroorganics forever, as some
> have suggested, seems to be an extreme and probably futile route to take.
>
> (I have absolutely no connection to any organization dealing with halogens
> or waste treatment.)
>
> RS
>
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