11/04/2006
- Results of a trial to test the use of new and
experimental dioxin sampling technology were published
today (Tuesday) by the Environment Agency.
The research took place at Eastcroft
municipal waste incinerator in Nottingham and
the Lafarge cement kiln at Cauldon in Staffordshire.
It found that at the incinerator, some of the
results from the experimental continuous sampling
appeared higher than the results from the existing
sampling which is required by the EU incineration
directive.
The Environment Agency’s Director
of Environmental Protection, Tricia Henton said:
"This new technology could provide us with
useful information about dioxin emissions in the
future but these results are inconclusive, and
we will be conducting further work to understand
more about them and whether they are accurate
or not.
"The levels of dioxins
emitted by incinerators and cement kilns are so
small they are very difficult to test for. We
are talking about levels that are as less than
one tenth of a thousandth of a millionth of a
gram. As a result, the smallest change to the
conditions of the test can have a huge impact
on the findings. That’s why more research and
testing is needed. We have no reason to doubt
the reliability of our existing sampling system,
which is tried, tested and meets the European
standard.
"People should have no
cause for concern. You are exposed to more dioxins
from bonfires and barbeques than from municipal
waste incinerators. In 2004 the total amount of
dioxins emitted by municipal waste incinerators
in England and Wales was 2g, which accounts for
less than 2 per cent of all dioxins emitted nationally."
Emissions from cement kilns
and municipal waste incinerators are subject to
strict European regulations and are very closely
monitored and regulated by the Environment Agency.
Sites that do not meet these standards can be
shut down.
