The Ministry for the Environment has concluded its investigation of dioxin levels around Iceland, coming to the conclusion that the substance is far below levels considered dangerous to animals or human beings.
The dioxin scare began last January, when a dairy manufacturer found high levels of the toxic substance – which is one of the main ingredients of the notorious pesticide Agent Orange – in cow’s milk. Following up on this, it was discovered that emissions from Funi, a garbage incinerator near Ísafjörður, had never been accurately gauged, and that dioxin levels in the area were up to 20 times over the safe limit.
This was followed by high dioxin levels also reported in the Westman Islands and Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The Ministry for the Environment was in turn prompted to call for a total investigation of dioxin levels around the country.
The results now in indicate that dioxin levels around the country, even in those places where high levels were measured, are still far below the unsafe level. The ministry says the general public need not fear being poisoned by dioxin.
The ministry has, however, asked garbage incinerators across the country to reduce their dioxin emissions, whether through burning less trash, or through finding cleaner ways of incinerating it.
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