This biomonitoring report by ToxicoWatch and supported by Zero Waste Europe reveals dangerously high levels of dioxins, PFAS, and heavy metals around the Zubieta Waste-to-Energy incinerator in Spain. Samples from backyard eggs, moss, soil, and water show widespread contamination, with one egg recording the highest dioxin levels in Europe in over a decade. The findings raise serious concerns about ongoing emissions and call for urgent action to protect environmental and public health.
Available in English.
This biomonitoring report by ToxicoWatch, supported by Zero Waste Europe and Collectif 3R, reveals high levels of dioxins, PFAS, and heavy metals in vegetation, moss, and soil around the Ivry-sur-Seine incinerator in Paris. Samples taken from schools and public areas show widespread contamination, with some dioxin levels exceeding EU safety limits. These findings align with earlier public health alerts and underline the urgent need for tighter emission controls and environmental monitoring across urban incineration zones.
Available in English.
This biomonitoring report by ToxicoWatch’s, supported by Zero Waste Europe, uncovers worrying levels of dioxins, PFAS, and heavy metals near the Harlingen Waste-to-Energy incinerator. Backyard chicken eggs, soil, moss, and water samples show significant contamination—PFAS levels in ditch water were 138 times above Dutch drinking water limits, and dioxins in eggs exceeded EU thresholds. These findings, spanning over a decade of research, highlight the urgent need to investigate pollution sources and resume continuous emissions monitoring at the REC facility.
Available in English.
This report presents the findings of the second phase of a multi-year biomonitoring study (2023–2025) conducted in 8-11 May, 2024.
The research focuses on the deposition of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including dioxins (PCDD/F/dl-PCB), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), PFAS, and heavy metals (HM), in the vicinity of the Cementáreň Turňa nad Bodvou cement plant in the Košice Region of Slovakia.
By assessing pollution levels, this study provides critical data to address environmental and public health impacts in the area.
Available in English.
The “True Toxic Toll” campaign is back with the most recent findings on the harmful impact of incinerator emissions on human health and the environment.
This report showcases the results of a multi-year biomonitoring research by ToxicoWatch Foundation on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the surrounding environment of a waste incinerator in Zubieta (Spanish Basque Country region).
The research reveals high levels of dioxins and PFAS in backyard chicken eggs, mosses, and pine needles near the incinerator, indicating contamination. The report highlights the need for further investigation into the sources of these pollutants and their impact on public health.
Available in English.
The “True Toxic Toll” campaign is back with the most recent findings on the harmful impact of incinerator emissions on human health and the environment.
The latest research conducted by ToxicoWatch on behalf of Zero Waste Europe analysed the persistent organic pollutants in the environment surrounding the REC Waste Incinerator in Harlingen, the Netherlands. This time, we analysed backyard chicken eggs; fruit and vegetables such as apples, cauliflower, and kale; and vegetation from the surrounding villages and settlements.
Among other findings, the results showed that:
– High levels of dioxins were found in the eggs of backyard chickens sampled within a 3 km radius of the waste incinerator.
– The PFOS level in eggs sampled from Wijnaldum, located 2 km from the incinerator, largely exceeds the limit imposed by EU regulations.
– There are high levels of aluminium in eggshells sampled from Wijnaldum.
These findings raise concerns about the region’s environmental health and the health of those living near the incinerator.
Available in English and Dutch.
The “True Toxic Toll” campaign is back with the most recent findings on the harmful impact of incinerator emissions on human health and the environment.
The latest research conducted by ToxicoWatch on behalf of Zero Waste Europe analysed the persistent organic pollutants in the environment surrounding a cement kiln in Turňa nad Bodvou, Slovakia. This time, we analysed fruit such as apples, figs, and grapes; backyard chicken eggs; vegetation; and dust, water, and sediments from the surrounding villages.
The results showed that:
– PFAs were detected in grapes and fig leaves; and PAH levels were found in apples and grapes;
– There were concentrations of dioxins, PAH, and PFAS in eggs, pine needles, and mosses;
– Eggs from backyard chickens in three locations exceeded the EU limit for dioxins.
– Elevated levels of PAH were found in roof dust.
These findings raise concerns about the region’s environmental health and the health of those living near the incinerator.
Available in English and Slovak.
Building on the 2021 results, Zero Waste Europe coordinated again a biomonitoring research on incinerator emissions across Europe, together with ToxicoWatch, Hnuti Duha, Ziedine Ekonomika, and Ecologists en Accion Spain.
The results found again high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the vicinity of incinerators.
Available in English.
Executive Summaries are available in English, Lithuanian and Czech.
In Europe, waste incinerators are on the rise, often being promoted as a safe way to dispose of our waste. The way emissions are measured only represents a tiny snapshot of the incinerator’s output – meaning, not all incineration emissions are evaluated. Zero Waste Europe coordinated a biomonitoring research on incinerator emissions across Europe, together with ToxicoWatch, Hnuti Duha, Ziedine Ekonomika, and Ecologists en Accion Spain. Biomonitoring is the measurement of pollutants which spread into the surrounding environment of an incinerator, and can be found within living organisms.
Full report and infographics available in English.
Executive Summary available in English, Croatian, and German.