2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxic effects and tissue levels in animals from the contaminated area of Seveso, Italy.

Abstract

After the environmental contamination by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in the area of Seveso, Italy, thousands of small domestic animals (mainly rabbits and poultry) died within a few weeks. Autopsies on dead animals showed various pathological signs, such as hepatic lesions and haemorrhage. TCDD was monitored in animal tissues by gas chromatography-mass fragmentography; rabbit liver levels corresponded fairly well to soil contamination, which indicated that this species can be used as a tool for tracking the presence of TCDD in the environment.