The Panteg monitoring project: comparing PCB and dioxin concentrations in the vicinity of industrial facilities

This paper describes the design, implementation and outcome of a research project which investigated concentrations of PCBs and PCDD/DFs (more commonly known as dioxins and furans) in the Panteg district of Pontypool, south Wales. The project was initiated in response to public concerns regarding the operations of a chemical waste incinerator located in the area and was undertaken by a multidisciplinary team based at the University of East Anglia. Sampling was carried out around a number of industrial facilities in the Panteg district and involved a variety of environmental compartments (e.g. soil, grass, air, milk, eggs, poultry and vegetables). The results provided evidence of some unusual environmental contamination in a strip of land 200 m wide around the eastern boundary of the incineration plant. Fugitive emissions from the site appeared to be substantially responsible for this situation and exposure calculations indicated that eggs were potentially the major source of higher PCB and PCDD/DF intakes. Since the start of the project substantial alterations have been made to the incinerator and, overall, the research does seem to have resolved a number of uncertainties and helped to reduce local concerns.