Dioxins are produced as a byproduct of

A. Forest fires

B. Incineration of plastics

C. Chemical processing

D. Volcanic eruptions

E. Diesel fuel combustion

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Key Points

Dioxins:

• Dioxins are environmental pollutants.
• They belong to the so-called “dirty dozen” - a group of dangerous chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
• Dioxins are of concern because of their highly toxic potential.
• Once dioxins enter the body, they last a long time because of their chemical stability and their ability to be absorbed by fat tissue, where they are then stored in the body.
• Their half-life in the body is estimated to be 7 to 11 years.
• In the environment, dioxins tend to accumulate in the food chain.
• The higher an animal is in the food chain, the higher the concentration of dioxins.

Sources of dioxin contamination

• Dioxins are mainly by-products of industrial processes but can also result from natural processes, such as volcanic eruptions and forest fires.
• Dioxins are unwanted by-products of a wide range of manufacturing processes including smelting, chlorine bleaching of paper pulp and the manufacturing of some herbicides and pesticides.
• In terms of dioxin release into the environment, uncontrolled waste incinerators (solid waste and hospital waste) are often the worst culprits, due to incomplete burning. 

Therefore we conclude that the correct answer is B, C and E only.