The report prepared for the EPA, giving an estimated inventory of releases of dioxins and furans to the Irish environment in 2000, and projections for 2010, is a very useful contribution to our information base on dioxins in the environment, especially as it identifies the relative significance of various emission sources for dioxins.
Overall the report indicates that Ireland generates relatively low amounts of dioxin – an estimated 93 grams in 2000 – and in this regard it supports the findings of earlier EPA surveys of dioxin levels in Irish cows milk, which showed an overall 16% reduction in the period 1995 to 2000, to levels that are uniformly low by international standards.