Canadian Council of Ministers
of the Environment

Le Conseil canadien des ministres
de l'environnement

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Dioxins and Furans

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), commonly known as dioxins and furans, are toxic, persistent, bioaccumulative, and result predominantly from human activity. Due to their extraordinary environmental persistence and capacity to accumulate in biological tissues, dioxins and furans are slated for virtual elimination under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the federal Toxic Substances Management Policy and the CCME Policy for the Management of Toxic Substances.

Canada-wide standards were developed for priority sectors accounting for the majority of Canadian emissions. Priority areas included waste incineration (municipal solid waste, hazardous waste, sewage sludge and medical waste), burning of salt laden wood in coastal pulp and paper boilers, iron sintering, electric arc furnace steel manufacturing, and conical municipal waste combustion.