On behalf of the Aluminum Industry’s Environmental Secretariat (AMS), the Veterinary Institute has investigated fluoride exposure in animals who live near aluminum plants in Norway.
In the study It appears, among other things, that abnormally high values of fluoride were measured in 59 animals, which have grazed near Hydro’s aluminum factory on Karmøy,
A deer herd has been present at the aluminum plant. Three animals were killed in 2019. They all had dental injuries as a result of fluoride exposure. The following year, 12 deer and one deer were shot inside the factory area. The animals had extremely high fluoride values, he writes Haugesunds Avis, who first mentioned the case.
Proven in polar bears, mink and field
– Unfortunate
50 sheep also grazed in the area. The sheep were released in 2015. Five years later, 43 of them had to be killed, according to the newspaper.
– The sheep had such a large fluoride impact that they had to be killed, Turid Vikerø from the Veterinary Institute informs Haugesunds Avis.
In addition, a cow, which was examined in connection with slaughter, had too high values.
Information director Halvor Molland at Hydro tells Dagbladet that the company takes the new findings seriously.
– We take the matter seriously. It is obviously unfortunate that this has happened, and it is important that we immediately take hold of this new knowledge we have gained, says Molland.
He confirms that the sheep, which was a herd of wild sheep, were recently killed after damage from excessive concentrations of fluoride was found in these animals – and that a local veterinarian recommended killing the sheep.
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– Close to the facility
Molland further says that the sheep grazed inside the industrial area that belongs to Hydro Karmøy and he confirms that the animals grazed there throughout the year.
– Hydro on Karmøy has discharge permits, and stays within these limits. We now see, however, that we should not let grazing animals enter the industrial area, so close to the plant. The learning is that you can not have grazing animals in this area, says Molland.
– How is the danger to animals that graze further away?
– Only a few 100 meters further away, the dilution effect means that the concentration of the fluorides decreases rapidly. It spreads and the concentration becomes smaller, Molland answers.
Babies die. Men get tits
Recommended killing
– What kind of injuries did the sheep have that had to be killed?
– The examinations showed that they had too high values of fluoride, and thus damage to teeth and bones occurs. After an assessment by a veterinarian, and for the sake of the animal welfare of the sheep, it was recommended to kill them, he says.
Molland further says that Hydro lent the relevant area to farmers who wanted to let the wild sheep graze there. Hydro will not allow this anymore, now that they have seen the results of the survey, he says.
– We monitor the area, and ensure, among other things, that deer antlers do not establish themselves within the fences. In addition, we are now moving grazing animals further away from the facility, says Molland.
He adds that they will continue investigations in the relevant area, via several measuring points.
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