Dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzodioxins; PCDDs) are one of the most toxic man-made compounds known and can be measured by the DR CALUX^®.

They are persistent environmental pollutants (POPs) and tend to accumulate in biota. Dioxin-like compounds such as polychorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) show similar properties. This group of chemicals, also known as polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs), display a wide variety of toxic effects in mammals, birds, and fish. Among the toxic effects observed as a result of exposure to PHAHs are immunotoxicity, carcinogenicity, metabolic changes, and even death.

Estrogens like Estradiol , a female sex hormone, has a direct effect on the function of the reproductive system, the nervous system, the cardiovascular system and the skeletal system and can be measured by the ER CALUX^®.

Blood sugar levels, skin and other tissues and functions are also significantly influenced by estradiol. Like all steroid hormones, excessive amounts of estradiol can contribute to a number of increased health risks. An increasing number of reports that chemicals in the environment mimic the natural estrogen thereby disrupting normal endocrine function, have raised public concern. It has been hypothesised that increased incidence of hormone-sensitive cancers, decreased sperm counts in humans, and compromised gonadal functionality in wildlife is due to exposure to substances possessing estrogenic activity.