The advice below should be followed to reduce the long-term health impact based on the consumption of berries, mushrooms and home-grown vegetables. The advice mainly applies to the area of Skelleftehamn, Bureå and Örviken as well as nearby islands. The advice is based on levels in rinsed vegetables and berries.
Recommendations for home-grown vegetables:
- Rinse berries and vegetables before consumption
- Sporadic or moderate consumption of home-grown food is ok without increased risk. Moderate consumption means a maximum of about 10% homegrown of total normal annual consumption.
- If you eat significant amounts of home-grown vegetables, which means 50% or more, purchased cultivation soil or cultivation in pallet collars or greenhouses is recommended. This reduces the risk from dusting and uptake of metals from soil.
Recommendations for the consumption of forest berries and mushrooms:
- Adults and children are completely discouraged from eating mushrooms from the area.
- Adults and children are advised not to eat forest berries from the area regularly or exclusively.
- Rinse berries if larger amounts are consumed. Sporadic and small intake of unrinsed berries is considered acceptable.
- Prevent small children from eating soil.
Additional information
An investigation of lead and cadmium in children’s blood was carried out in Skelleftehamn in 2001. The study showed that neither lead nor cadmium levels in children in Skelleftehamn were elevated, despite the presence of a smelter and elevated levels in the surface soil.
If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact the environmental section at Boliden Rönnskär.
Erik Spinnel, [email protected], tel. 070-209 15 44
Pasi Peltola, [email protected], tel. 070-217 45 86