On January 28, the first meeting within an international cooperation project "Measurement of Dioxines in Estonia" will be held at the Estonian Environmental Research Centre. The objective of the Estonian-Danish cooperation project is investigation of dioxine emissions from power plants. To date, no measurements have been performed in Europe to study dioxines emitted from oil shale fueled power plants. According to mr. Ott Roots, Coordinator of Monitoring Activities of the Estonian Environmental Research Centre, areas where dioxines might be emitted were theoretically determined within the framework of the previous Estonian-Danish cooperation project. "The assumption is that fires at waste dumping sites are the most important source of dioxine emissions in Estonia, cement and power production also being of high importance. The calculation of emissions from oil shale fueled power plants is difficult since the theoretical basis for calculations has been derived from coal fueled facilities. The Estonian oil shale is unique in its character, consequently there is need for further investigations," said mr. Roots. On January 29-30, the working group of the above project will visit the Narva power plants with the aim to select the sites for taking samples of dioxine emissions for performing further analyses. The current plan is to take 15 samples for determination of dioxine content in atmospheric air. An overview of dioxine emissions from the power plants will be obtained by autumn, 2003. Of the poisonous compounds investigated so far, dioxines are considered to be among the most toxic. Once emitted, dioxines may be carried by wind to the sea where they will accumulate through the food chain in fish and may thus finally end up in human organism. "The problem with dioxines is that they are not used as chemicals but they are derived as problematic by-products of combustion processes," mentioned mr. Roots. Experts of the DANCEE (Danish Cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe), Estonian Environmental Research Centre, and Estonian Energy Ltd. will participate in the meeting tomorrow. For additional information please contact: |
