Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => The Environment => Topic started by: Talia on 02/05/2012 17:58:09

Title: Do forest fires produce dioxins?
Post by: Talia on 02/05/2012 17:58:09

What is the process of releasing dioxin in forest fires?

Title: Re: Dioxin
Post by: Bored chemist on 03/05/2012 19:07:15

Typically forest fires won't produce a lot of dioxin.

Title: Re: Dioxin
Post by: Talia on 04/05/2012 14:17:35

yes I know but i'm interested what is the molecular process of producing.

Title: Re: Dioxin
Post by: Airthumbs on 07/05/2012 02:13:11

I thought that Dioxins were a result of industrial processes and are completely man made?

Title: Re: Dioxin
Post by: Bored chemist on 07/05/2012 09:50:58

If the forest were contaminated with something like 2,4D then it's possible that a fire could rearrange that (by essentially sticking two together) into TCCD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic_acid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin

The molecules are quite similar. However without some sort of chlorinated precursor, the process is pretty much a non-starter.