Biomonitoring Kaunas
All over the world, there is growing public awareness and concern over the potentially toxic effects of persistent organic pollutants on human health and the environment. In particular, people living near waste incinerators need to be reassured about their health risks, (short- and long-term exposure to incineration emissions), the safety of such combustion facilities, and compliance with regulations – not only under normal conditions, but also in "other than normal operating conditions" (OTNOC), such as shut-downs, start-ups, and failures.
The newly built Kaunas WtE (waste) incinerator, UAB Kauno Cogeneration Power Plant, has been in operation since November 2020. The first round of a biomonitoring research on biomarkers of backyard chicken eggs, pine needles and mosses in the region around the incinerator has taken place.
The region of Kaunas shows an environment under threat by contamination of substances of very high concern in eggs of backyard chicken, pine needles, and mosses. This biomonitoring gives a warning signal for the presence of toxic substances such as dioxins (PCDD/F), dioxin-like PCBs, PAHs and PFAS. More research is needed to find out the contribution of the incinerator. The striking evidence is the absence of transparency toward the people living in the environment of an incinerator.
See report 2021 biomonitoring Kaunas, Lithuania (LT)
Biomonitoring Pilsen (CZ)
The complexity of the chemical content of today’s household and industrial waste presents a challenge for turning modern waste into energy in (WtE) waste incinerators. Even with the application of the most developed air pollution control devices (APCD), it is still a huge challenge to eliminate the multitude of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waste incinerator residues and flue gases. Chotíkov, near Pilsen (Czech: Plzeň) is the location of the fourth municipal WtE waste incinerator in the Czech Republic: ZEVO Chotíkov or ZEVO Plzeň. The WtE incinerator receives about 12,369 tons of waste per hour, with an annual load of 95,000 tons of waste. The region of Pilsen shows an environment under threat by contamination of substances of very high concern in eggs of backyard chicken, pine needles, and mosses. This biomonitoring gives a warning signal for contamination of the environment with serious toxic substances such as dioxins (PCDD/F), dioxin-like PCBs, PAHs and PFAS.
Biomonitoring Madrid (ES)
The WtE (waste) incinerator of Valdemingómez in Madrid, Spain has been in operation since 1996. The biomonitoring research in the region around WtE incinerator show high levels of dioxins around the waste incinerator. The toxicity of the sum of dioxins (PCDD/F/dl-PCBs) in mosses, expressed in TCDD eq./g product for DR CALUX analysis exceeding with a factor of 20 compared to reference moss locations.
The results of dioxins in the pine needles is 75 times more compared to dioxins measured at the reference location. Remarkable is the high result of PFAS found in the Aleppo pine needles.
The PAH found in needles of Aleppo pine - Pinus halepensis is 10 times more than in the reference sample taken 4,000 metres away. In the foliage of Cupressus Arizona, the PAH concentration, expressed in Benzo[a]pyrene, is 12 times more than measured at the reference point.
All these findings indicate a strong pollution source in this environment. More information and research is needed to determine the contribution of POPs emissions of Valdemingómez to the environment.
True Toxic Toll
The biomonitoring study in Lithuania, Spain, and the Czech Republic is part of a Europe-wide research project on POP emissions in possible relation to waste (WtE) incineration. The project is running simultaneously for 2021 and 2022 in these three countries: ToxicoWatch Foundation, is participating as a scientific partner together with three environmental organizations, Ecologists in Action Spain, Žiedinė Ekonomika in Lithuania, and Hnutí DUHA in the Czech Republic, all coordinated by Zero Waste Europe. See video about "true toxic toll".
See report ZW-3 countries (LT, ES & CZ) 2022
Zero Waste Europe Biomonitoring
Video about biomonitoring
Biomonitoring Zubieta,
Basque Country, Spain
Key findings
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High dioxin levels in mosses near the incinerator
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Elevated dioxins at egg location (3600 m) in the main wind direction south of the incinerator
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Typical combustion congeners, like OCDD and HpCDF1, are found in the eggs
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PFAS found in the bio matrices mosses, eggs, and sediment
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More research is needed on the water stream near the incinerator, because of calamities
Biomonitoring Slovakia 2023 - 2025
Brussels, 11 April 2024 – New evidence published by Zero Waste Europe and ToxicoWatch Foundation on biomonitoring research on waste (co)incinerator emissions in Slovakia and the Netherlands found high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in food near the facilities.
The two studies, part of Zero Waste Europe’s True Toxic Toll project, focus on Slovakia and The Netherlands. They analysed the presence of POPs in the surrounding environment of facilities. Specifically, the studies meticulously gathered samples—such as eggs from backyard chickens, vegetation, fruit, roof dust, water, and sediment—from the vicinity of the investigated facilities.
A facility in Turňa nad Bodvou, Slovakia, has revealed that eggs, pine needles, and mosses in the vicinity show significantly high concentrations of dioxins, and PFAS, commonly known as ‘forever chemicals.’ Notably, dioxin levels in eggs in Zádiel surpass EU limits by 300%. Of grave concern are the elevated levels of PFAS found in surface water streams near the cement kiln and sediment. Moss samples exhibit some of the highest recorded heavy metal levels in Europe.
Biomonitoring Pilsen (CZ)
The complexity of the chemical content of today’s household and industrial waste presents a challenge for turning modern waste into energy in (WtE) waste incinerators. Even with the application of the most developed air pollution control devices (APCD), it is still a huge challenge to eliminate the multitude of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in waste incinerator residues and flue gases. Chotíkov, near Pilsen (Czech: Plzeň) is the location of the fourth municipal WtE waste incinerator in the Czech Republic: ZEVO Chotíkov or ZEVO Plzeň. The WtE incinerator receives about 12,369 tons of waste per hour, with an annual load of 95,000 tons of waste. The region of Pilsen shows an environment under threat by contamination of substances of very high concern in eggs of backyard chicken, pine needles, and mosses. This biomonitoring gives a warning signal for contamination of the environment with serious toxic substances such as dioxins (PCDD/F), dioxin-like PCBs, PAHs and PFAS.
Biomonitoring Madrid (ES)
The WtE (waste) incinerator of Valdemingómez in Madrid, Spain has been in operation since 1996. The biomonitoring research in the region around WtE incinerator show high levels of dioxins around the waste incinerator. The toxicity of the sum of dioxins (PCDD/F/dl-PCBs) in mosses, expressed in TCDD eq./g product for DR CALUX analysis exceeding with a factor of 20 compared to reference moss locations.
The results of dioxins in the pine needles is 75 times more compared to dioxins measured at the reference location. Remarkable is the high result of PFAS found in the Aleppo pine needles.
The PAH found in needles of Aleppo pine - Pinus halepensis is 10 times more than in the reference sample taken 4,000 metres away. In the foliage of Cupressus Arizona, the PAH concentration, expressed in Benzo[a]pyrene, is 12 times more than measured at the reference point.
All these findings indicate a strong pollution source in this environment. More information and research is needed to determine the contribution of POPs emissions of Valdemingómez to the environment.
True Toxic Toll
The biomonitoring study in Lithuania, Spain, and the Czech Republic is part of a Europe-wide research project on POP emissions in possible relation to waste (WtE) incineration. The project is running simultaneously for 2021 and 2022 in these three countries: ToxicoWatch Foundation, is participating as a scientific partner together with three environmental organizations, Ecologists in Action Spain, Žiedinė Ekonomika in Lithuania, and Hnutí DUHA in the Czech Republic, all coordinated by Zero Waste Europe. See video about "true toxic toll".
See report ZW-3 countries (LT, ES & CZ) 2022
Zero Waste Europe Biomonitoring
Video about biomonitoring
Biomonitoring Zubieta, Basque Country, Spain - 2025
Key findings 2025
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Hernani, located 3,500 metres east of the waste incinerator, the highest dioxin concentration ever recorded in backyard chicken eggs during 13 years of TW biomonitoring across Europe was measured.
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PFAS were detected in all examined backyard chicken eggs.
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In 2024, PFAS were also detected in a drinking water source located on a hill near Andoain
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Rising trends in heavy metals were also observed in water, soil, mosses, and sediment.
Biomonitoring Beringen, Belgium
Biomonitoring research dioxins and PFAS in Beringen
Following the construction of Bionerga's waste incinerator in Beringen, residents' group Leefbaar Tervant asked for the air quality to be researched. In response, the city of Beringen commissioned Toxicowatch to monitor air quality in Beringen through biomonitoring. This involved researchers taking samples from chicken eggs throughout Beringen to detect dioxins that accumulate in the egg yolk. These sampling took place before the incinerator started up (2019) and for two years after (2021, 2022).
After the final measurement, the results became known. Over the measurement period 2019 - 2022, globally increasing dioxin concentrations on the one hand and large fluctuations at the 5 measurement locations on the other were observed. A clear cause could not be identified.
Leefbaar Tervant commissioned an additional PFAS analysis of chicken eggs in Beringen. This showed that elevated concentrations were also found for PFAS.
Since many factors play into this complex fact and possible sources could also be located in the wider region, the city of Beringen called in the help of the Flemish government. The municipalities of Ham and Tessenderlo expressed their concern and joined the further investigation.
The relevant Flemish administrations have thoroughly reviewed the results of the Bering investigations and compared them with other Flemish measurements. As a result, several actions are being rolled out. During an information meeting, the working group consisting of the Flemish Environment Agency, the environmental inspectorate and the Department of Care explained an action plan consisting of 10 actions.
Press release City of Beringen (translated)
Worrying increases since start-up of waste incinerator
The results show increases in dioxins at all chicken egg sites with values well above European regulations. Already during the baseline measurement, TW noted that things were definitely not right with dioxins in our environment, but since the start-up of the incinerator, worrying increases have been observed.
Press release Leefbaar Tervant (translated)
Onderzoek naar dioxines en PFAS in Beringen
Naar aanleiding van de komst van de afvalverbrandingsoven van Bionerga in Beringen vroeg bewonersgroep Leefbaar Tervant om de luchtkwaliteit te onderzoeken. Stad Beringen gaf hierop de opdracht aan Toxicowatch om de luchtkwaliteit in Beringen op te volgen door middel van biomonitoring. Hierbij namen onderzoekers stalen uit kippeneieren verspreid over het grondgebied van Beringen om dioxines op te sporen die zich opstapelen in het eigeel. Deze staalnames vonden plaats voor de opstart van de verbrandingsoven (2019) en gedurende twee jaar erna (2021, 2022).
Na de slotmeting raakten de resultaten bekend. Over de meetperiode 2019 - 2022 werden enerzijds globaal stijgende concentraties dioxines en anderzijds grote schommelingen op de 5 meetlocaties vastgesteld. Een duidelijke oorzaak kon niet achterhaald worden.
Leefbaar Tervant heeft een aanvullende PFAS-analyse van kippeneieren in Beringen laten uitvoeren. Hieruit bleek dat er ook voor PFAS verhoogde concentraties werden aangetroffen.
Aangezien veel factoren meespelen in dit complex gegeven en mogelijke bronnen zich ook in de ruime regio kunnen bevinden, riep stad Beringen de hulp in van de Vlaamse overheid. De gemeenten Ham en Tessenderlo uitten hun bezorgdheid en sloten zich aan bij het verder onderzoek.
De betrokken Vlaamse administraties hebben de resultaten van de Beringse onderzoeken grondig bekeken en vergeleken met andere Vlaamse metingen. Als gevolg hiervan worden er verschillende acties uitgerold. Tijdens een informatievergadering heeft de werkgroep bestaande uit de Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij, de omgevingsinspectie en het Departement Zorg een actieplan bestaande uit 10 acties toegelicht.
Zorgwekkende stijgingen sinds opstart van afvalverbrandingsoven
De resultaten laten stijgingen van dioxinen zien op alle kippeneierenlokaties met waarden ver boven de Europese regelgeving. Reeds tijdens de basismeting constateerde TW dat het absoluut niet goed zat met dioxines in onze leefomgeving, maar sedert de opstart van de oven werden er zorgwekkende stijgingen vastgesteld.
Biomonitoring Paris, France 2025
Key findings 2025
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The highest dioxin concentration in moss was analysed at a primary school playground 780 metres west of the waste incinerator IPXIII.
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Most schools demonstrated high levels of dioxins in both moss and soil.
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All measured heavy metals [14] were elevated in the moss samples.
Biomonitoring NL Harlingen 2025
Key findings Biomonitoring Harlingen region 2025:
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Using innovative PFAS CALUX bioassay analysis, 110 and 570 ng PFOA eq./g dw were measured in soil in the vicinity of the incinerator.
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In 2024, water samples from a ditch contained 610 ng PFOA eq. /l, exceeding the Dutch drinking water limit of 4.4 ng PFOA eq./l (RIVM, 2023) by a factor of 138.
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Heavy metal analysis showed significantly elevated concentrations of mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) and in soil and mosses.