Summary-line:  8-Jan  n, wilcox@cis.ohio-state.  #Re: Immune: Dioxins
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Date: Tue, 8 Jan 91 17:13:09 pst
From: cnorman (Cynthia Norman)
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Subject: Re: Immune: Dioxins
Reply-To: cnorman@ucsd.edu


   Date:     Mon, 7 Jan 91 21:07:22 EST
   From: Brinton Cooper <abc@BRL.MIL>
   Subject:  Re: Immune: Dioxins
   Organization:  BRL

   Is it correct the chlorine is the culprit in creating dioxins during the
   bleaching of paper?

Yes.  It is some reaction the chlorine has during the paper-making process.
As I said, I have no idea if chlorine used outside of this process (eg,
pools, household cleaning) has the same effect.

   I hope that society doesn't do anything drastic
   about chlorine.  Before chlorinated water supplies and swimming pools,
   bacterial infection was rampant.  Bacterial and microbal infections can
   still swiftly cause serious illness and death.  As one afflicted with
   an autoimmune disorder, I am chemically immunosuppressed in order not to
   be ill; I'd feel quite vulnerable without good, effective disinfectants.

   _Brint

Chlorine is NOT necessary for bleaching paper products.  Some products (TP,
napkins, coffee filters) don't need to be bleached (ie, gleaming white) at
all.  Others can be bleached by alternative methods that do not produce
dioxin.  (Also, dyed paper products are bleached first.)

I don't know the answer for swimming pools (a luxury, certainly) and
drinking water, but for general household cleaning, Borax disinfects
perfectly adquetely (per hospital studies).  Baking soda or borax help take
stains out of clothes.  If you insist on using some bleach in the wash,
replace half of it with baking soda (it really works!).

Of course, dioxin is only one of the many contaminants we have to put up
with. . .

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Cyndi   cnorman@ucsd.edu