Yes, the combustion of PVC and other halogenated hydrocarbons can produce dioxins. This worm digests polyethylene, a halogen-free hydrocarbon that does not prod

Yes, the combustion of PVC and other halogenated hydrocarbons can produce dioxins. This worm digests polyethylene, a halogen-free hydrocarbon that does not produce dioxins even if burned. The article says "The analysis showed the worms transformed the polyethylene into ethylene glycol, representing un-bonded 'monomer' molecules." Methylene itself is an extremely reactive species that cannot be isolated outside of exotic conditions such as trapping in a frozen noble gas matrix. Ethylene glycol has a short environmental half-life and is oxidized to simple compounds like CO2 and H2O by a variety of processes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11302583 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11302583 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gordon_Craig/publication/279958104_Fate_effects_and_potential_environmental_risks_of_ethylene_glycol_A_review/links/55b3a32708aed621de010185/Fate-effects-and-potential-environmental-risks-of-ethylene-glycol-A-review.pdf https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gordon_Craig/publicatio...