New Studies Reveal Toxic Contamination Of Free-Range Eggs in 17 Countries:


Global | Apr 25, 2005



Free-range chicken eggs in chemical “hot spots” around the world contain traces of highly toxic chemicals at alarming levels – many at levels that far exceed European Union (EU) proposed or existing limits, according to two new studies by the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN).

Two studies conducted:

  • The Egg Report

    • This study looked for dioxin, furan, PCB, and HCB contamination in free-range chicken eggs in 17 countries on five continents. The chemicals included in this study are earmarked for minimization and elimination by the Stockholm Convention and are known as unintentional persistent organic pollutants (U-POPs), because they are created as unintentional byproducts of certain combustion and industrial processes.

  • The Next Generation of POPs: PBDEs and Lindane of POPs

    • This study looked for the presence of the pesticide hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH, lindane), and brominated flame retardants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), since these are chemicals that have the same characteristics as the 12 chemicals already slated for elimination or minimization.

    Download the full results of both Studies here.  DOWNLOAD

    The 17 countries included in this study were chosen to emphasize the overwhelming lack of information about POPs pollution in many countries. The countries are: Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Kenya, Mexico, Mozambique, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Tanzania, Turkey, Uruguay and the United States.

    Download the Hot Spot reports here.  DOWNLOAD

    Both studies found dangerous levels of toxic chemicals in eggs that were collected near waste incinerators, cement kilns, the metallurgical industry, waste dumps and chemical production facilities. The lowest levels of contamination had more than two times the background level of dioxins. Seventy percent of the samples exceeded the EU limit for dioxins in eggs; sixty percent exceeded proposed EU limits for PCBs in eggs. Three egg samples reported in this study contain some of the highest dioxin levels ever measured in chicken eggs. Lindane, beta-HCH and the PBDE flame retardants were found in all samples. Another flame retardant, HBCD, appeared in 80 percent of the samples. This study represents the first data about these substances in most of the countries examined.



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    Version: DRAFT 2.0 (June 1, 2006)