Toxic equivalency factor
Toxic Equivalency Factor (TEF)
Toxic Equivalency Factor (TEF) is a metric used in risk assessment to estimate the toxicity of a mixture of dioxins and furans. Pronounced as /ˈtɒksɪk ɪˌkwɪvəˈlɛnsi ˈfæktər/.
Etymology
The term "Toxic Equivalency Factor" is derived from the words "toxic", meaning poisonous, "equivalency", meaning equal in value, and "factor", a circumstance or fact that contributes to a result.
Definition
The TEF is a method for simplifying the risk assessment of complex mixtures of these compounds. Each compound is assigned a TEF, which is an estimate of its toxicity relative to a reference compound, usually 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). The TEFs for the individual compounds are then multiplied by their concentrations to give a total toxic equivalent (TEQ) for the mixture.
Related Terms
- Risk Assessment: The process of evaluating the risk to health or environment that might result from exposure to certain hazards.
- Toxicity: The degree to which a substance can harm humans or animals.
- Dioxin: A type of highly toxic compound that is a byproduct of many industrial processes.
- Furan: A colorless, flammable, highly volatile liquid used in chemical synthesis.
- 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD): The most toxic dioxin, used as the reference compound for TEF.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Toxic equivalency factor
- Wikipedia's article - Toxic equivalency factor
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