Following up on an October incident in which releases of PCBs, dioxin and furan were detected in stack emissions, the Edmonton Journal has reported that lab tests have discovered PCBs in weasels and a marten taken in the vicinity of the Swan Hills Treatment Center, a hazardous waste management facility in Alberta, Canada. Brown also says, however, that the dioxin detected in the deer probably was the result of chronic exposure rather than a single emission incident and CanTox warned Swan Hills residents to limit their consumption of game from the area based on the test results it analyzed. Alberta health officials went a step further, advising folks against eating fish or game taken with 20 miles of the Swan Hills facility.

INNER CIRCLE IS APPROX 20 MILES

OUTER CIRCLE IS APPROX 40 MILES

.Wexford's 3,000 farmers oppose incinerator plan.
The most important future plan for farms is reducing costs, followed by increasing quality of produce. Another concern for farmers in the increasing threat of pollution within the environment. One such immediate threat is the proposed incinerator at Great Island and the level of dioxins that may affect the agriculture in the area. It is a realistic fear that was realised in Belgium last year, when high levels of dioxins were found to have contaminated a number of food products, which were later banned and caused a national health scare and cost farmers millions in lost revenue.
The effects of this food scare were also felt in Ireland. A well-known national and international dairy manufacturer in the South East was contacted by authorities in Belgium and asked whether any of its food stuffs were sourced within a 40-mile radius of an incinerator. This has led both the IFA and ICMSA to question the use of incineration, as the clean production image would be severely damaged.
"The IFA is totally opposed to incineration. The Research Group involved with this issue has looked into farms in the continent and its effects. We are totally unaffected by dioxins so far and we should take account of that as should Bord Bia and the National Dairy Council. (Extract from the Wexford Echo Feb 9^th 2000)