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Adverse effects of dioxins—polychlorinated dibenzo--dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)—on human health have been known for many years. In particular, PCDDs and PCDFs have received much attention recently, not only from environmental scientists but also by the public because they are formed during the incineration of industrial wastes (). Consequently, there is a pressing need to find the formation mechanisms or reaction pathways of these chlorinated chemicals to reduce their environmental contamination. However, the formation mechanisms of these chlorinated chemicals are not yet completely understood because their reaction mechanisms are extremely complex (; ).

It is estimated that some 200 million people worldwide use illicit drugs. Most of these drugs have natural origins, such as cannabis, cocaine, and the opiates; however, the synthetic drugs such as the amphetamines also comprise a significant proportion of these uses (). In response to the socioeconomic impacts of the production and distribution of illicit drugs, a number of individual nations, as well as multinational organizations, have initiated programs to reduce and eventually eliminate their production and distribution ().