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Dioxin can harm tooth development
Exposure to breast milk tainted with moderate levels of dioxins can cause defects in developing teeth, rendering them especially vulnerable to cavities.
References:
Alaluusua, S., et al. 1999. Developing teeth as biomarker of dioxin exposure. Lancet 353(Jan. 16):206.
Partanen, A.-M., S. Alaluusua, et al. 1998. Epidermal growth factor receptor a mediator of developmental toxicity of dioxin in mouse embryonic teeth. Laboratory Investigation 78(December):1473.
Further Readings:
Alaluusua, S., et al. 1993. Exposure to 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin leads to defective dentin formation and pulpal perforation in rat incisor tooth. Toxicology 81:1.
Sources:
Satu Alaluusua
University of Helsinki
Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontics
Institute of Dentistry
P.O. Box 41
FIN-00014 Helsinki
Finland
Linda Birnbaum
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Toxicology
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
From Science News, Vol. 155, No. 8, February 20, 1999, p. 119. Copyright © 1999, Science Service.
