13 July 1999 1. Although the lime could be considered to be at the origin of a contamination of citrus pulp feedstock by dioxins discovered in 1998, the report also acknowledges that the origin of the most toxic dioxins found in the citrus pulp and in the product used to treat the citrus pulp has still to be clarified. About the hydrated lime of Solvay Indupa do Brazil. For Solvay Indupa do Brazil, the lime sold Solvay Indupa do Brazil was intended to be used for civil construction. Nevertheless, in August 1998, as soon as it was informed of a possible contamination, Solvay Indupa do Brazil decided to halt any delivery of its product and perform analytical investigations.
Brazil is a by-product of a previous manufacturing process which was stopped several years ago.
During these analytical investigations, in some samples of the lime originating from Solvay Indupa do Brazil, mainly furanes other than the toxic ones present in the citrus pulp were identified. The origin of these furanes remains however to be clarified. As a consequence, Solvay Indupa do Brazil carried out a specific risk assessment of the lime. The media was also invited. Brazil is very confident that the collaboration with the various stakeholders' authorities will result in the most appropriate solutions being found to resolve the pending questions.