Biosafety Issues in Laboratory Research

Dioxins is a compound family among persistent organic pollutants toxics produced by industrial wastes. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo -p-dioxin (TCDD) is a typical representative of dioxins, which not only exhibits systemic carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, immunotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, endocrine disruption and waste syndrome to humans, but also has effects on physiology and pathology of human skin. In general, chloracne is the most sensitive and specific marker for a possible dioxin intoxication. Clinically chloracne is an acneiform dermatosis, characterized by an eruption of multiple comedone-like cysts involving the face and as well as other areas. Atrophy or absence of sebaceous glands and infundibular dilatation or cystic formation of hair follicles could be detected histopathologically. In addition, erythema, oedema, decreased sebum secretion with skin xerosis, pigmentation, porphyrinopathy, hirsutism, skin thickening, palmoplantar hyperhidrosis and palmoplantar hyperkeratotis of sweat gland origin have also been reported after TCDD intoxication. TCDD exhibits various effects on cellular differentiation, inducing melanogenesis and complicated actions on skin inflammation and immunity. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling pathway and epidermal stem cells may be involved in TCDD activity. No effective treatment of TCDD exists.