Michigan State to lead $14 million dioxin study

Hazardous waste removal from area contaminated by dioxins in Montana (Credit: Montana Department of Environmental Quality)

Michigan State University scientists are leading a new $14.1 million study to help understand the environmental impacts dioxin contamination to find ways to safely eliminate it, according to a release from the university.

Dioxins are toxic chemical compounds that are typically associated with industrial byproducts. These byproducts have the potential to get passed through the food chain to humans, which can then cause certain cancers and various other health complications.

The study will focus on dioxins’ impact on human cells and tissues, specifically those of the liver and immune system.

The study will also examine how dioxins interact with minerals in the soil to determine if microorganisms might be used to clean contaminated sites in the future.

Image: Hazardous waste removal from area contaminated by dioxins in Montana (Credit: Montana Department of Environmental Quality)