Fact Sheet No. 1 - What is the National Dioxins Program?

International studies have raised questions about the risk to human health and the environment posed by dioxins. In Australia, available data suggests the levels of dioxins in the environment are generally low. The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts produced an inventory of dioxins emissions to air in 1998 (revised edition published 2002 - Sources of Dioxins and Furans in Australia: Air Emissions). As there were limited Australian data, this inventory had to use data from other countries to estimate dioxins emissions.

We need to know more about how dioxins may be affecting human health and the environment in Australia so we can take action to deal with them.

In the 2001-02 Federal Budget, the Australian Government announced funding of $5 million over four years for the National Dioxins Program. The Program will collect data, assess the impact of dioxins and then determine appropriate measures to reduce and where feasible, eliminate dioxins and dioxin-like substances.

All State and Territory Environment Ministers endorsed the Program in June 2001.

The Program will be implemented in three phases:

Phase One involves gathering information about the current levels of dioxins in Australia. Surveys of dioxin levels in the environment and people throughout Australia will provide information which will be used to prepare a new inventory of dioxins in Australia.
Phase Two of the Program will use the findings of Phase One as a basis to assess the potential risks of dioxins to the environment. An assessment will also be made of the potential risks for human health from exposure to dioxins either directly from the environment or from dioxin contaminated food.
Finally, Phase Three will use the Phase Two risk assessment to develop national management strategies to reduce, and where feasible, eliminate the release of dioxins in Australia.

What is the time frame for the program?

The NDP is running to the following timetable:

Phase One	Data Collection and Research	2002 to late 2003
Phase Two	Risk Assessment	mid 2003 to early 2004
Phase Three	Development of Measures for Action	late 2004 to mid 2005

Who is involved in the National Dioxins Program?

The program was developed by the Australian Government with the participation of State and Territory Governments following wide consultation with community and industry stakeholders in April 2001.

Currently, State and Territory Governments, and other Australian Government agencies contribute to the Program through their representatives on the National Dioxins Project Team.

Industry and the community are consulted through the National Dioxins Consultative Group. The Group includes representatives of environment and industry organisations, scientific experts as well as government officials.

The Program is managed by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

What studies are being conducted under Phase One?

The main priority for the Phase One studies were to determine the levels of dioxins in the environment and humans and to assess the relative importance of sources of dioxin emissions. Results of studies by other Australian Government programs or agencies are also being used to improve our knowledge of dioxin levels in Australia.

Dioxin levels in the Australian environment were measured by sampling air, aquatic environments, soils and fauna. The environmental studies collected samples from metropolitan, agricultural and remote areas such as national parks or Crown land free from human activity.

A study to measure the levels of dioxins in human breast milk took samples from over 200 first-time mothers from metropolitan and agricultural areas in Australia. Because breast milk is a rich source of fat where humans store dioxins, it is valuable for estimating the amount of dioxins in humans.

Another broader study sampled the blood serum from up to 10,000 men and women of various age groups in metropolitan and agricultural areas of Australia. The samples of the breast milk and blood studies were pooled to ensure that representative levels of dioxins in these groups are measured, rather than the levels in individuals.

Studies were carried out to assess the level of dioxin emissions from bushfires and motor vehicles.

At the same time, a survey of dioxin levels in foods by the Australia New Zealand Food Authority provided further information.

The results of these studies, along with other data, were used in the risk assessment of dioxins under Phase Two of the National Dioxins Program.

Further information on the results of this study can be found in the National Dioxins Program - Technical Reports.

This is number 1 of 4 fact sheets on the National Dioxins Program

For more information contact:
National Dioxins Program
Chemical Policy Section
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601
E-mail: dioxins@environment.gov.au

Internet: http://www.ea.gov.au/industry/chemicals/dioxins/index.html

April 2005