Page 55 - The European Baking Ingredients Market Report 2022 - Volume 1

European Baking Ingredients Market Report 2022
WASTE TRADE AND INCINERATION 55
SUSTAINABILITY

Europe is now burning roughly more

than half of its residual waste, with

less being landfilled each year.

needles and moss – all good inhabitants to refrain from eating found that 50% of the chickens’
examples of sensitive biosensors certain homegrown vegetables due eggs analysed did not meet EU
of air pollution – situated in the to the extensive soil contamination dioxin standard regulations for
surrounding area of incinerators by a local incinerator. 9 consumption. The closer the
in Valdemingómez (Spain), Pilsen location was to the incinerator, the
(Czech Republic) and Kaunas Similar findings were drawn from higher the level of dioxins registered.
(Lithuania). The study used recent research (August 2022)
bioassays, an analytical method in Belgium, where ToxicoWatch What can we do now?
to determine the concentration or found more concerning results. Even though the results of this
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potency of a substance by its effect The analysis of samples taken from biomonitoring research warrant
on living animals, plants, living cells, the area surrounding a brand new further investigations – as they
or tissues. facility (operating since 2020) demonstrate the existence of

The findings of the research,
presented in The True Toxic Toll,
7
found high levels of contamination
in biomarkers in the vicinity of the
three aforementioned incinerators.

The analysis of chickens’ eggs
showed that the majority exceeded
the EU action limits for food
safety, as mandated in the EU
regulation 2017/644. Moreover,
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a high percentage of these
eggs exceeded the safe level for
consumption. If those eggs had
been intended for the market, they
would have needed to have been
withdrawn.

What’s more, the analysed
vegetation, pine needles and
mosses also showed high elevation
of dioxin levels in the vicinity of the
waste incinerators. Although there
is no legal obligation to take action,
it’s a clear sign of pollution.

Moreover, the health of people
living in the vicinity of incinerators
could be adversely affected if
they were to eat home grown
vegetables. For example, in
Lausanne, the local health authority
felt it necessary to instruct

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