Contamination of chicken eggs near the Dandora dumpsite in Kenya by dioxins, PCBs and hexachlorobenzene.
Free-range chicken eggs samples were collected near potential sources of U-POPs named by the Stockholm Convention to check whether they might contain U-POPs. The Dandora dumpsite near Nairobi was selected as a sampling site since open burning of PVC plastic and other chlorine-containing items known to produce dioxins and furans is practiced. 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. This study was part of a global monitoring of egg samples for U-POPs conducted by IPEN and reflects the first data about POPs in eggs ever reported in Kenya. The eggs were taken for laboratory analysis in Czech Republic. The results showed high levels of dioxins and PCBs. In fact, dioxin levels exceeded background levels by almost 18-fold and were more than six times higher than the European Union (EU) dioxin limit for eggs. Levels of PCBs exceeded proposed regulatory limits by more than 4-fold.
Outputs:
Report: Contamination of chicken eggs near the Dandora dumpsite in Kenya by dioxins, PCBs and hexachlorobenzene
Egg sampling and testing for U-POPs
Dissemination of results to the mass media and government