(Not to be confused with Dioxin)
Dioxane is a type of chemical compound. Dioxanes have a ring of atoms made of four carbon atoms and two oxygen atoms. Depending on where the oxygen atoms are, there are three isomers of dioxane. Larger compounds that have the dioxane ring structure are also sometimes called dioxanes.
There are three isomers of dioxane, depending on where the oxygens are. The different oxygen locations make different functional groups on each isomer, giving them different chemistry.
- 1,2-dioxane has the two oxygen atoms next to each other. It is an organic peroxide.
- 1,3-dioxane has the two oxygen atoms on either side of one carbon atom. It is an acetal.
- 1,4-dioxane has the two oxygen atoms on opposite corners of the ring. It is a crown ether.
The National Toxicology Program says [that there is reason to believe, that the chemical can cause cancer in people, or it is] "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen". The IARC says that the chemical is possibly carcinogenic to humans because it is a known carcinogen in other animals.
