July 4

. These regulations have been very successful, dramatically reducing dioxin emissions and making modern waste-to-energy systems one of the cleanest sources of electricity. The phrase "Fourth of July" has acquired widespread significance in American culture as a reference to the Independence Day celebration in the United States and that celebration's many cultural accoutrements. As a result, EPA implemented new emissions requirements. July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. When the original EPA inventory of dioxin sources was done in 1987, incineration represented over 80% of known dioxin sources. In astronomy, the approximate date of Earth's aphelion. Incineration of municipal solid waste, medical waste, sewage sludge, and hazardous waste together produce less than 3% of all dioxin emissions.

Filipino-American Friendship Day. Modern waste incinerators are equipped with pollution control equipment which reduces dioxin emissions to insignificant levels. United States and Denmark - Independence Day (1776). Long term studies of the members of Ranch Hand have thus far uncovered a possibility of elevated risks of diabetes. 1923). These were members of Operation Ranch Hand. 2005 - Hank Stram, American football coach (b. The only exception existed for those who directly handled Agent Orange.

1920). The Center for Disease Control found that dioxin levels in Vietnam veterans [4] were in no way atypical when compared against the rest of the population. 2004 - Jean-Marie Auberson, Swiss conductor (b. The most recent study, paid for by the National Academy of Sciences, was released in an April 2003 report. 1944). US veterans' groups and Vietnamese groups, including the Vietnamese government, have convened scientific studies to explore their belief that dioxins were responsible for a host of disorders, including tens of thousands of birth defects in children, amongst Vietnam veterans as well as an estimated one million Vietnamese, through their exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, which was found to be highly contaminated with TCDD. 2003 - Barry White, American singer and record producer (b. Other possible effects may be.

1912). This is the only known direct result of dioxin exposure at levels below the lethal dose. Davis Jr., American general (b. Excessive exposure to dioxin may cause a severe form of persistent acne, known as chloracne. 2002 - Benjamin O. Dioxins build up in living tissue (bioaccumulate) over time, so even small exposures may accumulate to dangerous levels. 1934). It is even controversially discussed if dioxins might have a non-linear dose-response curve with beneficial health effects in a certain lower dose range, a phenomenon called hormesis.

1997 - Charles Kuralt, American television reporter (b. The use of these materials means that all modern humans receive (at least) a very small daily dose of dioxin—however, it is disputed whether such exceptionally tiny exposures have any clinical relevance. 1919). Such materials include tampons, and a wide variety of food packaging substances. 1995 - Eva Gabor, Hungarian-born actress (b. Dioxins are present in minuscule amounts in a wide range of materials used by humans — including practically all substances manufactured using plastics, resins or bleaches. 1921). See Agent Orange for more on contamination problems in the 1960s.

1992 - Astor Piazzolla, Argentinian composer (b. Higher levels of chlorination require higher reaction temperatures and greater dioxin production. 1936). Affected compounds include the wood preservative pentachlorophenol, and also herbicides such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (or 2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). Victor Chang, Australian physician (murdered) (b. Dioxins are also generated in reactions that do not involve burning — such as bleaching fibers for paper or textiles, and in the manufacture of chlorinated phenols, particularly when reaction temperature is not well controlled. 1991 - Dr. Incineration is now a very minor contributor to dioxin emissions.

1899). Incinerator emissions of dioxins have been reduced by over 90% as a result of new emissions control requirements. 1986 - Oscar Zariski, Russian mathematician (b. Chemical Engineering, December 2002 has a detailed article on this issue. 1918). The most common method of reducing dioxins reforming or forming de novo is through rapid (30 millisecond) quenching of the exhaust gases through that 400°C window. 1977 - Gersh Budker, Russian physicist (b. In incineration, dioxins can also reform in the atmosphere above the stack as the exhaust gases cool through a temperature window of 600 to 200°C.

1895). Nevertheless, chlorine tobacco pesticides and chlorine-bleached cigarette papers remain legal, with no warning required to consumers. 1976 - Antoni Słonimski, Polish poet and writer (b. Since then, the USA classified dioxin as a Known Human Carcinogen, and the USA signed the Stockholm Convention on POPs to globally phase out dioxin and 11 other of the worst industrial pollutants. 1902). Dioxin cannot come from the tobacco or any natural plant. 1975 - Georgette Heyer, English author (b. In that same document, the EPA acknowledged that dioxin is "anthropogenic" (man-made, "not likely in nature").

1909). Dioxin in cigarette smoke was noted as "understudied" by the EPA in its "Re-Evaluating Dioxin" (1995). 1971 - August Derleth, American writer and editor (b. Dioxins are also in smoke from typical cigarettes, those with chlorine-bleached paper and residues of many chlorine pesticides. 1905). These sources together account for nearly 80% of dioxin emissions. 1970 - Barnett Newman, American artist (b. According to the most recent EPA data the major sources of dioxin are:.

1881). Dioxins are produced in small concentrations when organic material is burned in the presence of chlorine, whether the chlorine is present as chloride ions or as organochlorine compounds, so they are widely produced in many contexts. 1941 - Antoni Łomnicki, Polish mathematician (b. The WHO still recommends breast feeding for its other benefits. 1867). Breast fed children usually have substantially higher dioxin body burdens than non breast fed children until they are about 8 to 10 years old. 1934 - Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Polish-born scientist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in chemistry and physics (b. Children's body burdens are often many times above the amount implied by tolerable intakes which are based on body weight.

1931 - Buddie Petit, American jazz cornetist. Children are passed substantial body burdens by their mothers, and breast feeding increases the child's body burden. 1901). Most controversial is the US EPA assessment's (draft) finding that any reference dose that were to be set would be far below current average intakes. 1926 - Pier Giorgio Frassati, Italian mountaineer (b. Few facilities have constant sampling. 1835). In Belgium, through the introduction of a process called AMESA, constant sampling showed that periodic sampling understated emissions by a factor of 30 to 50 times.

1910 - Giovanni Schiaparelli, Italian astronomer (b. In many developed nations there are now emissions regulations which have alleviated some concerns, although the lack of constant sampling of dioxin emissions causes concern about the understatement of emissions. 1830). Inhalation has been a problem for people living near substantial point sources where emissions are not adequately controlled. 1905 - Élisée Reclus, French geographer and anarchist (b. Occupational exposure is an issue for some in the chemical industry, or in the application of chemicals, notably herbicides. 1863). [1].

1902 - Swami Vivekananda, Indian spiritual leader (b. Dioxin enters the general population almost exclusively from ingestion of food, specifically through the consumption of fish, meat, and dairy products since dioxins are fat-soluble and readily climb the food chain. 1843). Tolerable daily, monthly or annual intakes have been set by the World Health Organization and a number of governments. 1901 - Johannes Schmidt, German linguist (b. Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom all have substantial research into body burdens and sources. 1809). The United States Environmental Protection Agency Dioxin Reassessment Report is possibly the most comprehensive review of dioxin, but other countries now have substantial research.

Vice President (b. . 1891 - Hannibal Hamlin, U.S.
. 1797). The treaty obliges signatories to take measures to eliminate where possible, and minimize where not possible to eliminate, all sources of dioxin. 1882 - Joseph Brackett, American religious leader and composer (b. Dioxins and other Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are subject to the Stockholm Convention.

1806). The TEFs have been developed from detailed assessment of literature data to facilitate both risk assessment and regulatory control. 1881 - Johan Vilhelm Snellman, Finnish statesman (b. TEFs for mammalian species are generally applicable to human risk calculations. 1786). TEFs are consensus values and, because of the strong species dependence for toxicity, are listed separately for mammals, fish and birds. Marcy, American statesman (b. By convention it is assigned a toxicity rating or Toxic Equivalence Factor (TEF) of 1.0 with the remaining PCDD/Fs being assigned lower relative values.

1857 - William L. 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro dibenzene-para-dioxin is the most toxic of the congeners. 1759). Out of the 210 PCDD/F compounds in total, only 17 congeners (7 PCDDs and 10 PCDFs) have chlorine atoms in the relevant positions to be considered toxic by the NATO/CCMS international toxic equivalent (I-TEQ) scheme. 1850 - William Kirby, English entomologist (b. The toxicity of PCDD/F is dependant on the number and position of the chlorine atoms, with only congeners that have chlorines in the 2,3,7,and 8 positions have any observable toxicity. 1768). There are 210 different PCDD/F congeners, comprising of 75 PCDD's and 135 PCDF's.

1848 - François-René de Chateaubriand, French writer and diplomat (b. Chlorine atoms are attached to the basic structure at 8 different places on the molecule, numbered from 1 to 10. 1758). The basic structure of PCDD/F's comprises of two benzene rings joined by either a single (furan) or a double oxygen bridge (dioxin). 1831 - James Monroe, 5th President of the United States (b. PCDD/F's have been shown to bioaccumulate in humans and wildlife due to their lipophilic properties. 1743). Dioxin is the popular name for the family of chlorinated organic compounds comprising of Polychlorinated Dibenzo Furans (PCDF) and Polychlorinated Dibenzo Dioxins (PCDD).

1826 - Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States (b. Dioxin was described as a mind-altering substance, that caused depression and would definitely cause the person to commit suicide, sooner or later. 1735). One news report explained, that during the cold war, the KGB used dioxin to induce suicides. 1826 - John Adams 2nd President of the United States (b. Although experts suggest his face could clear up after several years, it is highly unlikely. 1742). This is the first known case of a single high dose of TCDD dioxin poisoning.

1821 - Richard Cosway, English artist (b. In 2004, a notable individual case of dioxin poisoning, Ukrainian politician Viktor Yushchenko was exposed to the second-largest measured dose of dioxins, according to the reports of the physicians responsible for diagnosing him. 1715). These patients were provided with olestra to accelerate dioxin elimination. 1787 - Charles de Rohan, prince de Soubise, Marshal of France (b. The same study also covered a second subject who had received a dosage equivalent to 2,900 times the normal level, who apparently suffered no notable negative effects other than chloracne. 1712). However, other notable laboratory tests, such as immune function tests, were relatively normal.

1780 - Prince Charles of Lorraine, Austrian military leader (b. She suffered from chloracne, nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, loss of appetite, leukocytosis, anemia, amenorrhoea and thrombocytopenia. 1689). In a 2001 case study [5], physicians reported clinical changes in a 30 year old woman who had been exposed to a massive dosage (144,000 pg/g blood fat) of dioxin equal to 16,000 times the normal body level; the highest dose of dioxin ever recorded in a human. 1761 - Samuel Richardson, English writer (b. The scandal that followed caused a landslide in the elections one month later. 1680). 7,000,000 chickens and 60,000 pigs had to be slaughtered.

1754 - Philippe Néricault Destouches, French dramatist (b. In May 1999, there was a dioxin crisis in Belgium: quantities of dioxin had entered the food chain through contaminated animal feed. 1671). No direct consequences of this incident have thus far been recorded. 1742 - Guido Grandi, Italian mathematician (b. A possibly large amount of dioxins was flushed from the factory into the Labe river during the 2002 European flood. 1623 - William Byrd, English composer. Dozens of them fell seriously ill.

1521). Workers in this factory were exposed to high concentrations of dioxins at that time. 1603 - Philippe de Monte, Flemish composer (b. In the 1960s, parts of the Spolana chemical plant in Neratovice, Czechoslovakia, were heavily contaminated by dioxins, when the herbicide 2,4,5-T (also a component of Agent Orange) was produced there. 1495). Dioxin also caused the 1983 evacuation of Times Beach, Missouri. 1541 - Pedro de Alvarado, Spanish explorer (b. In 1978, dioxin was one of the contaminants that forced the evacuation of the Love Canal neighborhood of Niagara Falls, New York.

1187 - Raynald of Chatillon, Prince of Antioch (executed). In 1976 large amounts of dioxin were released in an industrial accident at Seveso, although no human fatalities or birth defects occurred. 965 - Pope Benedict V. In the 1960s Philips-Duphar produced 2250 tonnes of 'Agent Orange' for the US Army. 1995 - María Isabel, Spanish singer. Four people die of dioxin poisoning, and 50 more suffer severe health problems. 1976 - Daijiro Kato, Japanese motorcycle racer. In 1963 a dioxin cloud escapes after an explosion in a Philips-Duphar plant (now Solvay Group) near Amsterdam.

1974 - La'Roi Glover, American football player. And at least in laboratory animals, increased rates of liver and lung cancer are observed. 1973 - Gackt, Japanese singer. Diabetes. 1967 - Andy Walker, Canadian television personality. Birth defects. 1967 - Vinny Castilla, Mexican Major League Baseball player. Endometriosis.

1962 - Pam Shriver, American tennis player. Damage to the Immune systems.[3]. 1961 - Richard Garriott, English video game designer. Developmental abnormalities in the enamel of children's teeth.[2]. 1951 - Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, American politician. Diesel trucks. 1948 - Tommy Körberg, Swedish singer. Metal smelting.

1946 - Ed O'Ross, American actor. Residential wood burning. 1946 - Ron Kovic, American peace activist. Coal fired utilities. 1943 - Geraldo Rivera, American reporter and talk show host. Land application of sewage sludge. 1943 - Konrad "Conny" Bauer, German jazz trombonist. Trash burn barrels;.

1942 - Floyd Little, American football player. 1941 - Brian Willson, American peace activist. 1938 - Bill Withers, American singer and songwriter. 1977).

1931 - Stephen Boyd, Northern Irish actor (d. 1930 - George Steinbrenner, baseball team owner. 1929 - Bill Tuttle, baseball player. - Neil Simon, American playwright.

1927 - Gina Lollobrigida, Italian actress. 1926 - Alfredo Di Stefano, Argentinian footballer. 1924 - Eva Marie Saint, American actress. 1923 - Rudolf Friedrich, Swiss Federal Councilor.

2003). 1921 - Tibor Varga, Hungarian violinist and conductor (d. 2004). 1921 - Gerard Debreu, French-born economist, Nobel Prize laureate (d.

1920 - Norm Drucker, prominent National Basketball Association referee. 1920 - Leona Helmsley, American hotel operator and real estate investor. 1918 - Pauline Phillips (Abigail Van Buren), American advice columnist and twin sister to Ann Landers. 2002).

1918 - Ann Landers, American advice columnist (d. 1947). 1917 - Manolete, Spanish bullfighter (d. 1911 - Mitch Miller, American bandleader and television personality.

1910 - Gloria Stuart, American actress. 1991). 1905 - Irving Johnson, American author and adventurer (d. 1976).

1904 - Angela Baddeley, English actress (d. 1992). 1902 - George Murphy, American dancer, actor, and Senator from California (d. 1983).

1902 - Meyer Lansky, Russian-born mobster (d. this date). 1971) (see article re. 1900 - Louis Armstrong, American musician (d.

1997). Pilar Barbosa, Puerto Rican historian (d. 1898 - Dr. 1981).

1896 - Mao Dun, Chinese writer (d. 1970). 1883 - Rube Goldberg, American cartoonist (d. 1957).

Mayer, American film producer (d. 1882 - Louis B. 1968). Grant III, American soldier and planner (d.

1881 - Ulysses S. 1942). Cohan, American singer, dancer, composer, actor, and writer (d. 1878 - George M.

1933). 1872 - Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States (d. 1906). 1847 - James Anthony Bailey, American circus impresario (d.

1926). 1854 - Victor Babeş, Romanian bacteriologist (d. 1905). 1845 - Thomas Barnardo, Irish humanitarian (d.

1864). 1826 - Stephen Foster, American songwriter (d. 1882). 1807 - Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian patriot (d.

1864). 1804 - Nathaniel Hawthorne, American writer (d. 1859). 1799 - King Oscar I of Sweden (Joseph François Oscar Bernadotte), French Napoleonic general (d.

1797). 1719 - Michel-Jean Sedaine, French dramatist (d. 1769). 1715 - Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, German poet (d.

1772). 1694 - Louis-Claude Daquin, French composer (d. 1595). 1546 - Murat III, Ottoman Sultan (d.

1367). 1330 - Ashikaga Yoshiakira, Japanese shogun (d. 2005 - The Deep Impact collider hits the comet Tempel 1. 2004 - National Team of Greece won the EURO 2004 Cup 1-0 after the Final against Portugal.

(This was largely a symbolic event; actual construction would not start for several weeks). 2004 - The cornerstone of the Freedom Tower is laid on the site of the World Trade Center in New York City. 2002 - A Prestige Airlines cargo Boeing 707 crashes just short of the runway in Bangui, Central African Republic killing 25. The gunman is shot and killed by a security officer.

2002 - Three people are shot at the El Al check-in booth at Los Angeles International Airport. 1998 - Lin "Spit" Newborn and Daniel Shersty are murdered by neonazis in the desert just outside Las Vegas. 1997 - NASA's Pathfinder space probe lands on the surface of Mars. 1993 - The Argentine national football team defeats mexico to win the Copa América 1993 in Guayaquil.

1987 - In France, former Gestapo chief Klaus Barbie (aka the "Butcher of Lyon") is convicted of crimes against humanity and is sentenced to life imprisonment. 1984 - NASCAR driver Richard Petty wins his 200th and final career victory at the Firecracker 400 race. 1982 - Four Iranian diplomats have been kidnapped upon Israel invasion of lebanon. 1976 - The citizens of the United States celebrate their country's bicentennial.

1976 - Israeli commandos raid Entebbe airport in Uganda, rescuing all of the passengers and crew of an Air France jetliner seized by Palestinian terrorists. The act goes into effect the next year. Johnson signs the Freedom of Information Act into United States law. 1966 - President Lyndon B.

state on August 21, 1959, the 50-star flag of the United States debuts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania almost ten and a half months later (see Flag Act). 1960 - Due to the post-Independence Day admission of Hawaii as the 50th U.S. state earlier in the year, the 49-star flag of the United States debuts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1959 - With the admission of Alaska as the 49th U.S.

1950 - First broadcast by Radio Free Europe. 1946 - After 381 years of colonial rule, the Philippines is granted full independence by the United States. 1941 - Mass murder of Polish scientists and writers, committed by Nazi Germans in captured Polish city of Lwów. 1939 - Lou Gehrig, recently diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, tells a crowd at Yankee Stadium that he considered himself "The luckiest man on the face of the earth" as he announces his retirement from major league baseball.

1934 - Leo Szilard patents the chain-reaction design for the atomic bomb. 1934 - Joe Louis wins his first professional boxing match. 1927 - First flight of the Lockheed Vega. 1918 - Bolsheviks kill Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family (Julian calendar date).

1918 - Ottoman sultan Mehmed VI ascends to the throne. 1910 - African-American boxer Jack Johnson knocks out white boxer Jim Jeffries in a heavyweight boxing match sparking race riots across the United States. Dole. 1894 - The short-lived Republic of Hawaii is proclaimed by Sanford B.

1881 - In Alabama, the Tuskegee Institute opens. 1865 - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is published. Grant after 47 days of siege. 1863 - American Civil War: Battle of Vicksburg - Vicksburg, Mississippi surrenders to Ulysses S.

1862 - Lewis Carroll tells Alice Liddell a story that would grow into Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequels. 1859 - Franco-Piedmontese War: The Battle of Magenta. 1855 - In Brooklyn, New York, the first edition of Walt Whitman's book of poems titled Leaves of Grass is published. 1845 - Near Concord, Massachusetts, Henry David Thoreau embarks on a two-year experiment in simple living at Walden Pond (see Walden).

1840 - The Cunard Line's 700 ton wooden paddle steamer RMS Britannia departs from Liverpool bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia on the first transatlantic passenger cruise. 1838 - The Iowa Territory is organized. 1837 - Grand Junction Railway, world's first long-distance railway, opens between Birmingham and Liverpool. 1831 - James Monroe dies on the fifty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

1827 - Slavery is abolished in New York State. 1826 - Fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, on which John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, died. 1817 - At Rome, New York, United States, construction on the Erie Canal begins. 1810 - The French occupy Amsterdam.

1803 - The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people. 1802 - At West Point, New York the United States Military Academy opens. 1776 - American Revolutionary War: The Continental Congress approves a Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. 1712 - 12 slaves are executed in New York for starting an uprising that killed 9 whites.

1636 - City of Providence, Rhode Island forms. 1584 - Sir Walter Ralegh first sees the coast of North Carolina. 1187 - Saladin defeats Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem, at the Battle of Hattin. Its remnants form the Crab Nebula.

For several months it remains bright enough to be seen during the day. 1054 - A supernova is observed by the Chinese and Amerindians near the star ζ Tauri. 993 - Saint Ulrich of Augsburg canonized.