text: From chlorophenols to dioxins is only a small step in nature: lots of bacteria do make hydrogen peroxide, which can do the job. The average amount of dioxins in ground of woods is higher than that found in industrial or highly urbanised areas - except for some hot spots - and is much higher than the levels found in open fields and grassland.
  There is a lot of resistance to waste incinerators. In fact, the worst of them give in the exhaust about the same amount of dioxins as what was in the input, although this will be concentrated on the nearby surroundings. A well equipped incinerator, at the contrary, reduces the amount of dioxin a hundred to a thousandfold.
  In many cases, chlorine and chlorinated products can be replaced by chlorine-free processes or chlorine-free products, sometimes this can be beneficial for the environment, but in many cases, especially for PVC, where a lot of investigations were done, known and controlled dangers are exchanged for (un)known dangers, which can have a much higher impact on man and nature.