In the first national study of dioxin levels in multiple mediums, the Environment Agency found generally average contamination levels, but also a few surprises, the agency said Friday.
The agency studied dioxin levels in seven mediums -- air, incinerator dust, bodies of water (rivers and bays), groundwater, sea life, soil and sediment -- at nearly 400 sites nationwide and found contamination levels mostly in line with prior studies.
However, the study found new highs in aquatic sediments at 260 picograms per gram of sediment, aquatic life at 30 picograms per gram of fat, groundwater at 5.4 picograms per liter and dust near waste incinerators at 170 picograms per cubic meter per day. A picogram is a trillionth of a gram.