Abstract
Published data on the optical spectra and theoretical investigations of dioxins, polychlorinated derivatives of dibenzo-p-dioxin, which are well-known environmental toxins, are generalised. The geometrical and electronic structures of the molecules and their vibrational and electronically excited states are considered. The influence of the number and positions of chlorine atoms in dioxin molecules on the optical spectra (IR and UV absorption, fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra), in particular, on the low-temperature fine-structure phosphorescence spectra of solid solutions and on the photophysical deactivation of triplet electronic states are discussed. The results of the use of optical spectroscopy for identification and quantification of dioxins are presented. The bibliography includes 108 references.