The civic organisation Zelený živel o.z. representing environmentally conscious residents in Turnianska Kotlina, took the initiative in 2023 to contact Zero Waste Europe and ToxicoWatch (TW) for independent research on the deposition of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dioxins (PCDD/F/dl-PCB), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and PFAS, as well as heavy metals in the environment surrounding the cement kiln Cementáreň Turňa nad Bodvou, located in the Košice Region in Slovakia.
This cement kiln, (co-)waste incineration plant, supported by EU grants, burns waste materials, ranging from plastic agglomerate, worn-out old used car tyres, and PCB oil-containing waste – as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. There are plans to increase waste burning from 65,000 to 115,000 tons per year, a nearly 50% increase. Cement kilns are utilised for the destruction of persistent organic pollutants such as PCBs and PFAS, owing to the higher combustion temperatures they provide.
ToxicoWatch biomonitoring research in this region, focuses on assessing the environmental impact around the cement kiln Turňa nad Bodvou. ToxicoWatch employ biomonitoring techniques using eggs from backyard chickens, as well as analysing fruit and vegetation for dioxins, PFAS, PAH and heavy metals. Alongside cement production, the region of Košice faces additional industrial sources of air pollution. Notably, in Včeláre and Hosťovce quarries, limestone, a basic raw material for cement production, is extracted. Adjacent to the cement kiln are ecologically significant areas, including the Protected Bird Area Slovak Karst (SKCHVÚ 027) and the National Nature Reserve – Zádielska Gorge, which forms part of the Slovak Karst National Park.
Key findings TW-Biomonitoring research Turňa nad Bodvou region, October 2023:
- Eggs, pine needles, and mosses exhibited high concentrations of dioxins (PCCD/F/dl-PCB), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- In Turňa nav Bodvou six (6) PFAS compounds could be determined in eggs of backyard chicken.
- PFOS level in backyard chicken eggs of location Zádiel, exceeding the EU limit for PFOS by 300%.
- The surface water stream near the cement kiln and sediment samples show high levels of PFAS by analysis assay FITC-T4.
- Elevated levels of PAH were found in dust depositions on the roofs of houses in the villages of Dvornìke and Zádiel.
- The heavy metal levels in mosses (bryophytes) are among the highest recorded in TW-biomonitoring research conducted in Europe (2019-2023).
Key findings TW-Biomonitoring research Turňa nad Bodvou region, May 2024:
- Exceeding values for dioxins of the EU limit of 3.3 pg BEQ/g/fat (DR CALUX) and 5.0 TEQ/g fat (GC-MS) were found in the eggs of backyard chickens.
- The results of dioxins in mosses (Bryophyta) and pine needles (Picea abies) were highly elevated compared to reference sites.
- Dioxin patterns (congeners) indicate a source of co-incineration of alternative industrial fuel.
- Analysis of 14 Heavy Metals (HM) – Silver (Ag), Aluminium (Al), Arsenic (As), Barium (Ba), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Tin (Sn) and Zinc (Zn) – showed elevated levels of all heavy metals in mosses (Bryophyta) compared to the references from the Slovak Karst National Park (NP Slovenský kras), EU-limits and average levels of heavy metals in vegetables.
- Comparative studies by Danucem Slovensko a.s., (conducted by Ekotoxikologické centrum Bratislava, ECB) and the Košice Regional Government (conducted by Ekolive) confirm the findings of TW regarding increased dioxins in backyard chicken eggs, however underestimate the elevated presence of Heavy Metals (HM) in vegetation and soil this research area.
- The analysis results in sediment at the reference sites in the Slovak Karst National Park, > 20 km west of the cement kiln, show significantly lower values than the results of fourteen (14) heavy metals in the soil at seven (7) sites within a radius of 3.5 km around the cement plant.
- A seriously contaminated children’s playground in Dvorníky-Včeláre, located just 630 meters north of the cement kiln, was found to contain high levels of lead (Pb) and Arsenic (As).
- High concentrations of heavy metals (HM-14) were found in Mosses (Bryophyta), near the cement kiln, indicating a serious contamination of the soil in private vegetable gardens.
