Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame-retardant chemicals that are added to plastics and foam products to make them difficult to burn.

The EPA carries out routine national monitoring for a range of environmental contaminants through measuring the levels in cows’ milk. During additional testing in an area of “potentially higher risk” in Co Cork, elevated levels of PBDEs were found in a sample of raw milk from a local dairy farm.

However, the levels found were not high by European comparison and do not constitute a risk for public health, according to the Department of Agriculture. The source of the contamination was identified as old matting material used as bedding in the cow cubicles.

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed disclosed the details of the incident following a parliamentary question by Green Party TD Eamon Ryan on Tuesday, in which he asked the Minister to set out the status of the investigation, if he had identified the source of the contamination and whether milk from the site affected was allowed into the food chain.

“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carries out routine national monitoring for a range of environmental contaminants through measuring the levels in cows’ milk. In addition, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has carried out a number of studies to check for the presence of PBDEs. The results of this monitoring confirm the low levels of such contaminants in the Irish environment.

“The EPA also carries out additional testing in areas that might be viewed as areas of potentially higher risk of containing these substances. One of these monitoring samples in a raw milk sample from a farm in Co Cork showed somewhat elevated levels of PBDEs, though the level was not high by European comparison. The levels found do not constitute a risk for public health,” the Minister said.

Investigation

An inter-agency group of experts from the EPA, the FSAI and the Department of Agriculture was established to investigate the cause of the elevated levels in this case.

“Following considerable investigation, including a comprehensive testing regime of a number of matrices, including milk, various feed materials, water and other substances in the animal housing, the source of the problem was established. The source was identified as coming from a particular old matting material used as bedding in the cow cubicles in the animal housing on the farm. Accordingly, the source of the problem did not have its origins in the surrounding environment,” the Minister concluded.

Speaking to Irish Farmers Journal, a spokesperson for the EPA said that the investigation is ongoing:

"A survey carried out between June and early August 2010, showed one sample having elevated levels of PBDEs. Although this level was not high by European comparison the EPA notified the anomaly to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland for further investigation. This investigation has confirmed that the elevated levels originated from one farm in Cork. The investigation is ongoing," they said.