Most dioxin emissions are not from factories, they are from agricultural burnings and public bonfires. You could end up with farmers facing a double whammy. They will not just lose their current stock because of foot and mouth but may not be able to sell products in future because their land is contaminated. In 1991 milk from farms near an incinerator at Bolsover in Derbyshire had to be thrown away because it contained excess dioxins. Dioxins form at high temperatures in the presence of carbon, hydrogen and chlorine.
Pyres contain chlorine because they are built with creosote-soaked railway sleepers and tyres.
The dead livestock contain hydrogen and carbon compounds, and the fires are lit with hydrocarbon fuels such as kerosene. Fears that foot and mouth had infected wild deer were raised yesterday after a vet claimed to have identified the symptoms in a dead roe deer found near Penrith in Cumbria last week. Tests are being carried out on the carcass. An epidemic would be a very serious situation. Maff said it had no confirmation of any wild deer being infected with foot and mouth.