Toxic substances list: polychlorinated dibenzofurans
Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (furans) are highly persistent compounds with a strong affinity for sediments and a high potential for accumulating in biological tissues. They have been found in all compartments of the ecosystem, including: air, water, soil, sediments, animals and foods. Dioxins and furans enter the environment as complex mixtures from four major sources: commercial chemicals (eg. pentachlorophenol); incineration; pulp and paper mills that use chlorine bleaching; and both accidental fires and spills involving polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, which contain principally furan contaminants).
For information on Canada's international engagement on this substance, please visit:
There is more than one CAS number that applies to this group of substances.
Risk Assessment
- Priority Substances List Assessment Report
- Notice concerning the confirmation of "Track 1 substance" status for Polychlorinated dibenzofurans as determined by assessment of these substances against the Track 1 criteria of the Toxic Substances Management Policy
- Virtual elimination of the substance (Track 1) under the Toxic Substances Management Policy
Source(s)
This substance is entering the environment from the following source(s):
Risk Management Tool(s)
Tool(s) developed to manage risks associated with the substance:
- Environmental Code of Practice for Non-Integrated Steel Mills
- Environmental Code of Practice for Integrated Steel Mills
- Canada-Wide Standard for Incineration
- Canada-Wide Standard for Coastal Pulp and Paper Boilers
- Canada-Wide Standard for Iron Sintering
- Canada-Wide Standard for Steel Manufacturing Electric Arc Furnaces
- Canada-Wide Standard for Conical Waste Combustion of Municipal Waste
- Recommendations for the Design and Operation of Wood Preservation Facilities
- Pulp and Paper Mill Defoamer and Wood Chip Regulations
- Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent Chlorinated Dioxins and Furans Regulations
- Notice requiring the preparation and implementation of pollution prevention plans in respect of inorganic arsenic compounds, hexavalent chromium compounds, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and/or hexachlorobenzene used by wood preservation facilities
- Pollution Prevention Planning Notices - Base Metals Smelters and Refineries and Zinc Plants
- Pollution Prevention Planning Notices - Wood Preservation Facilities
Consultation
Consultation (past and present) on the substance:
- Proposed notice requiring the preparation and implementation of pollution prevention plans in respect of inorganic arsenic compounds, hexavalent chromium compounds, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and/or hexachlorobenzene used by wood preservation facilities (Active Consultation Document until 2005-07-14)
- Notice (DRAFT) requiring the preparation and implementation of pollution prevention plans in respect of inorganic arsenic compounds, hexavalent chromium compounds, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and/or hexachlorobenzene used by wood preservation facilities
- Response to Comments on the Proposed Notice Requiring the Preparation and Implementation of Pollution Prevention Plans in Respect of Inorganic Arsenic Compounds, Hexavalent Chromium Compounds, Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins, Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans and/or Hexachlorobenzene used by Wood Preservation Facilities
Other Information
- Dioxins and Furans Canada-wide Standards: Update on 2006 Reviews [2006-04-28]
- Level of Quantification (LoQ) for releases to soil
- Level of Quantification (LoQ) for Air Emissions
- Dioxins and Furans and Hexachlorobenzene Inventory of releases (January 1999)
- Release Inventory Report (February 2001)
- Characterization of Organic Compounds from Selected Wood Stoves and Fuels
- National Pollutant Release Inventory-Substance Information
- Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy
- US EPA Dioxins Inventory of Releases (PDF; 172 KB)
- US EPA Dioxin Reassessment
- North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation-Draft Phase One North American Regional Action Plan on Dioxins and Furans, and Hexachlorobenzene
- Stockholm Convention on POPs
Contact
Substances Management Information Line
Chemicals Management Plan
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3
Telephone: 1-800-567-1999 (in Canada) or 819-938-3232
Fax: 819-938-3231
E-mail: substances@ec.gc.ca
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