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Ministry of the environment initiated study for determination of dioxine content of the Baltic Herring

The Ministry fo the Environment has initiated a study for determination of the dioxine content of the Baltic Herring in order to find out whether or not this species is suitable for consumption as food. The study was brought about as a consequence of repeated speculations in recent years as to Baltic Herring posing risk to human health due to its high dioxine content.

The study will be coordinated by the Estonian Centre for Environmental Research; the first results of the analyses are expected in June.

The fish for sampling were caught in the Estonian coastal waters and sent for investigation to a German laboratory having specific accreditation for performing such analyses.

According to Mr. Ott Roots, Monitoring Coordinator of the Centre for Environmental Research, the dioxines and furans are stable highly toxic organic compounds. Standards have been established concerning the content of those compounds in food - should these standard levels be exceeded, this can bring about health problems. 

In the Baltic Sea, dioxine contents are relatively higher than e.g. the North Sea or the Atlantic Ocean. Dioxines and furans are typically formed as a consequence of waste combustion in the case of low combustion temperature.

To date, analysing of dioxine and furan content is not possible within Estonia as the necessary equipment is very costly and the number of analyses required would be relatively low. It is therefore more feasible to order the verification analyses to be made in other countries where the cost per analysis is relatively lower (approximately 500 Euro per sample).

The study will also be of importance for providing Estonia the possibility to sell its fish products in the European Union market as the EU has established maximum acceptable levels of dioxine content.

The cost of the study amounts to 200,000 Estonian kroon which will be covered by the Estonian Centre for Environmental Investments.

For additional information please contact:
Mr. Ott Roots
Monitoring Coordinator, Estonian Centre for Environmental Research
Telephone: (+372) 611 2964