由於多氯戴奧辛(以下稱戴奧辛)，與其化學結構類似的化學物質，如多氯夫喃(以下稱夫喃)與多氯聯苯等，被發現在動物實驗中有極強的致癌性及對環境的衝擊，在公共衛生上引起很大的關切。其中2,3,7,8-四氯戴奧辛甚至在已開發國家中被稱作『世紀之毒』。這篇研究就其發生源、環境流佈與各種環境介質之暴露量、重大人類的暴露族群、戴奧辛的吸收、代謝、與排出暨戴奧辛的毒性作用作一綜合介紹。第一次世界大戰以來工業需求甚大的多氯聯苯已逐漸因其對環境與生態的衝擊被多國禁用。待解決的是殘留的多氯聯苯如何處置，對於環境的衝擊才會較小，而毒性較大的 戴奧辛與夫喃卻是含氯物質因高熱或處理過程產生之不純物，很難避免，未來公共衛生的挑戰即是致力於改善工作流程，減少戴奧辛類化合物之產生，發展分解戴奧辛類化合物之生物或工程技術上加以努力。

　　　　　Due to the carcinogenicity and the considerable impact on our environment and ecosystems, polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins (Dioxins) and their structurally similar compounds such as polychlorinated dibenzo-para-furans (Furans) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have become concerns to public health. Among them, 2,3,7,8 tetra-dioxin has been called the 烢oison of the century?because it is the strongest hepatocarcinogen. The sources, exposure levels in various environmental media and corresponding e nvironmental fates, number of significant episodes, and toxicities of these compounds were extensively reviewed. We concluded that, residual PCBs, further efforts should focus on reducing the harmful effects. However, for dioxins and furans, the challenges are to improve the technology to decrease the production of these impurities within the manufacturing process, and to develop the biotechnology to decompose these persistent compounds.