An overview of TCDD half-life in mammals and its correlation to body weight

Major determinants of TCDD half-life in organisms are lipophylicity, metabolism, and hepatic binding sites. In addition, half-life seems to be empirically correlated to organism body weight. In this paper, this correlation is evaluated by a regression analysis of half-life measures and body weight data selected from the literature. Single exposure studies on laboratory mammals and human half-life data were specifically taken in consideration. The analysis outcome appears to be highly significant probably owing to the stability and generally slow metabolism of the substance in the organisms considered. The effect on half-life of factors other than body weight does not seem to influence significantly data dispersion around the regression line. The potential effects of a dose-dependent excretion cannot be excluded as toxicokinetic studies have been usually carried out at high exposure doses.