A chara, - Helge Andreasen of the Danish EPA (February 6th) makes the amazing claim that "emission of dioxin is a regional problem - a problem mainly caused by the manufacturing industry - and it cannot be linked specifically to Danish waste management".
His own Danish EPA published a report just two months ago, in December 2000, written by Mr Erik Hansen of COWI (the same COWI that co-wrote with M.C. O'Sullivan most of Ireland's regional waste management plans), its major conclusion is:
"The total Danish formation of chlorinated dioxins in 199899 is estimated at 90-830g ITEQ/year. The dominant source is municipal waste incineration" (page 14).
A further conclusion on page 15 of the same report states: "Municipal waste incineration should be regarded as the most important source for dioxin formation and emission in Denmark."
Could I suggest that Mr Andreasen read his own reports before denying the link between waste incineration and dioxins?
As for my "10-year old" data on dioxin levels in milk in Denmark, it comes from the 1997 Danish EPA Working Document on Dioxins, and is repeated in the 1999 EU Compilation of EU Dioxin Exposure and Health Data. It is the most recently data available. Perhaps the Danes should test their cows' milk more regularly? - Yours, etc.,
Dr Conchur O Bradaigh, Galway for a Safe Environment, Brockagh, Castlegar, Galway.