Research Paper on:
Immune Suppression and the TCDD Toxic Contaminant

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
and phenoxyherbicide manufacturing, as well as paper pulp chlorine bleaching and chlorine-containing waste combustion (Anonymous, 2002). Better known to most people as dioxin or Agent Orange, the deadly substance  was sprayed down upon soldiers of the Vietnam War as a means by which to defoliate trees and shrubs in order to thwart enemy hiding. Subsequent research indicated that  exposure TCDD causes significant physical disease, not the least of which impacts ones immune system. The bodys immune system is the primary means by which people fight off disease and  remain healthy; when it is compromised - as with the presence of toxic chemicals - disease has a much better opportunity to develop. With dioxin, the particular emphasis regarding  immune suppression is placed upon the overwhelming incidence of cancer in those who have a history if high-level exposure. Because of the significant lack of research data pertaining to  long term low-level exposure, findings are inconclusive as to dioxins overall immunosuppressive properties (NIEHS). "The increased knowledge of the changes occurring in cells after exposure to dioxin allow us  to examine if those effects are occurring in humans. Ongoing studies using state of the art molecular techniques are examining the effect of dioxins on the levels of specific  genes in humans exposed long term to both high and low levels of dioxins. These studies will determine if there are individuals that are more responsive to dioxin and  if these differences indicate that they are at higher risk of developing health problems" (NIEHS). Dioxin impacts the bodys cellular composition much the same way that estrogen does, in  that it penetrates and binds with the cells Ah receptor. When this occurs, the recpetors protein to which the dioxin has adhered is then able to bind with the