Dioxin

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin, a dioxin, was the main chemical involved in the Seveso disaster.

This page is about the type of chemical. For the parent compound of this group, see dioxin (compound). For other chemicals commonly called "dioxin", see dibenzo-1,4-dioxin and 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin.

Dioxins are a group of organic compounds. They have an aromatic ring where two carbon atoms have been replaced by oxygen atoms. The simplest compound, 1,4-dioxin, is very unstable, but related chemicals with more rings are more stable. The name "dioxins" in common use means these chemicals, more accurately called dioxins and dioxin-like compounds, especially polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, which are a notable environmental pollutant and carcinogen.

Dioxins have few uses and are mostly made as a byproduct of making other organochlorides, or burning organic material that was mixed with chlorine compounds like bleach. The main historical source of dioxins was Examples where dioxins can result are the production of PVC or the bleaching of paper. In nature, they are produced in volcanoes and forest fires.

A chemical accident where a lot of dioxin was released was the Seveso disaster.