Esposizione perinatale a diossine: rilevanza per la salute nell'infanzia e nell'età adulta

Perinatal exposure to dioxin occurs either in-utero, by transplacental transfer of the compound, or through lactation. Perinatal exposure causes the accumulation of an initial dose of dioxin contributing, along with subsequent intakes later in life and mainly due to consumption of contaminated foodstuffs, to the total individual body burden. Dioxin levels which are too low to cause toxic effects to the mother may determine developmental alterations and diseases of different systems. Research is needed to characterize these effects and their potential persistence throughout life or in subsequent generations. Maternal factors that may influence the resulting levels of plasma dioxin in the offspring, such as BMI, age and exposure level, need careful evaluation.