IPEN- Toxics Link new study reveals dioxin residues in egg samples – Incineration of waste likely source.

As per the study which was shared with media, it has been revealed that
· Dioxin levels as high as five and a half times the European Union dioxin limits found in the egg samples collected from near a medical waste incinerator in India. Samples also exceeded the proposed limits for PCBs by 4.7-fold. These levels are by far among the highest found in samples from 20 countries
· Dioxins are among the most potent toxic chemicals known to man. They are among the 12 chemicals classified as POPs- persistent organic pollutants. POPs travel far and wide, resisting natural breakdown processes, and climbing the food chain until they reach humans, where they build up in fatty tissues.
· The Stockholm Convention came into force last May and is intended to protect human health and the environment by reducing and eliminating POPs. India is still to ratify it.
· Indian governmental representatives and all stakeholders are urged to pursue ratification of this global Treaty and keep the promise of reduction and elimination of POPs to protect Indian and global public’s health and environment from the injuries caused by POPs.
· Meanwhile The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is promoting incineration of over 200 tonnes of waste per day in highly polluting RDF plants, using the lowest end technologies available worldwide instead of sustainable and safe waste management plans.
· Medial Waste Incinerators, which are among the highest sources of dioxins worldwide are mushrooming in India despite safer alternatives available locally.
The story in detail
Hard to believe but hazardous toxic chemicals have made inroads into our daily lives much beyond our imagination. They may be sitting right on our breakfast table – in the eggs that we eat.

Startling new evidence reveals high levels of Dioxins and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in chicken egg samples from India. The dioxin levels found were five and a half times higher than the European Union (EU) dioxin limits for eggs. In addition, the samples exceeded the proposed limits for PCBs by 4.7-fold. The test results revealed the presence of most toxic of dioxins family of 210 compounds.

Dioxin is toxic in very low concentrations, as low as 0.006 pictogram (one trillionth part of a gram) per kg body weight per day. In case 19.8pg/g is found in eggs (according to the present results) then if an adult weighing 60 kg eats 2 eggs (50 grams each) per day then he takes up 0.0006 g of dioxins/day that comes to 0.018g/month and 0.216g/year. This amount keeps on accumulating each year through repeated exposure.

The data was released by Toxics Link that coordinated the study in India as part of the worldwide campaign “Keep The Promise, Eliminate POPs” initiated by the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN). Chicken eggs from a total of 20 countries across five continents were also examined. The egg samples collected from near the Queen Mary’s Hospital medical waste incinerator in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh were tested in Czech laboratory Axys Varilab for the levels of contamination with hazardous toxic chemicals. Axys Varilab is one among 3 labs worldwide that have met the WHO criteria for testing of Dioxins.

Dioxins and PCBs are classified as POPs – Persistent Organic Pollutants due to the chemical characteristics they possess. POPs include chemicals such as pesticides, industrial chemicals, and unwanted by-products of industrial processes or combustion. The three main traits of POPs are: persistence as they are able to resist degradation for months and even decades; bio-accumulation as they can accumulate in living tissues at levels higher; and potential for long range transport. They have the potential to travel great distances from the source of release through air, water, and migratory species. The global community has so far acknowledged 12 POPs commonly referred to as “dirty dozen”. These chemical substances cause injury to human health and to species and ecosystems both adjacent to and far away from their sources and therefore warrants immediate action.

The aim of the study was to explore whether free-range chicken eggs might contain unintentional POPs (U-POPs) if collected near potential sources. The neighborhood of the Queen Mary's Hospital, Lucknow medical waste incinerator in Uttar Pradesh was selected as a sampling site since medical waste incinerators are known to produce dioxins and furans as well as hexachlorobenzene and PCBs. Chicken eggs were chosen for several reasons: they are a common food item; their fat content makes them appropriate for monitoring chemicals such as POPs that dissolve in fat; and eggs are a powerful symbol of new life. Free-range hens can easily access and eat soil animals and therefore their eggs are a good tool for biomonitoring of environmental contamination by U-POPs.

Although this study represents the first data about POPs in chicken eggs from India, evidence of dioxin finding its way into the food chain is not new. Previous similar studies have also found high levels of dioxin in butter, fish and breast milk in the country. According to a study by Senthil Kumar et.al (Yokohoma, Japan) in 2001 in which the levels of dioxins were analysed in tissues of human, fishes, chicken, lamb, goat, predatory birds, Ganges River dolphins collected from various locations around the country, dioxin levels in human tissues ranged from 170 to 1300 pg/g , which is capable of causing adverse health effects.

In comparison to other countries covered in the study, the Indian samples are found almost five and more-fold higher than those observed in egg samples collected from Belarus (Bolshoy Trostenec dumpsite) and Czech Republic (near chemical plant) and almost two-fold higher than those observed in samples from Slovakia (near municipal waste incinerator). The dioxin levels are found slightly low in comparison to those found in eggs collected at Dandora dumpsite in Kenya. Results from other countries shall be released soon. Interesting point to note is that toxic contents have been found in all the samples so far clearly pointing at the global nature of the problem.

Health Effects
These findings are a cause for worry as dioxins are the most potent toxic chemicals ever studied. Dioxin is known to cause serious health problems, even in small doses. It acts as a powerful hormone disrupting chemical and literally modifies the functioning and genetic mechanism of the cell, causing a wide range of effects, from cancer to reduced immunity to nervous system disorders to miscarriages and birth deformity. The effects can be very obvioussuch as in chloracne or very subtle. Because it changes gene functions, it can cause so-called genetic diseases to appear, and can interfere with child development. There is no "threshold" dose - the tiniest amount can cause damage, and our bodies have no defense against it. The effects are not limited to one generation but can be seen over generations.

Sources and the POPs convention
Dioxins are released into our environment as unintentional by-products from incineration of toxic and urban waste, the manufacture of chlorinated solvents and pesticides, paper and pulp mills, cement kilns that burn chemical waste as well as from production and disposal of the plastic PVC.

Noteworthy is the fact that cutting out fatty meat will not solve the dioxin problem. Phasing out the products and practices that make dioxin will. Dioxin must be stopped at the source. Starting now.

The toxic substances measured in the study are slated for reduction and elimination by the Stockholm Convention, which holds its first Conference of the Parties beginning 2 May 2005. India signed the Convention in 2002 but has not yet ratified it.

The Convention mandates Parties to take specific actions aimed at eliminating these pollutants from the global environment. The Convention should be viewed as a promise to take the actions needed to protect Indian and global public’s health and environment from the injuries that are caused by persistent organic pollutants, a promise that was agreed by representatives of the global community: governments, interested stakeholders, and representatives of civil society.