(VOV) – More dioxin-contaminated spots have been discovered at Bien Hoa Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai, a seminar heard in Hanoi on March 10.
- Vietnam, US share experience in dioxin cleanup
- Lessons to solve POPs/dioxin pollution shared
- Efforts to deal with AO/Dioxin consequences
This is the result of the Environmental Remediation of Dioxin Contaminated Hotspots in Vietnam project, carried out in 2013 and funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
At the project review seminar, Deputy Head of the Vietnam Environment Administration Le Ke Son said 16 out of the 28 lakes tested at Bien Hoa Airport exceeded the safe level of dioxin.
In particular, water and soil samples of newly dug-out lakes and those at a higher position were also found to be contaminated with the lethal chemicals.
Studies show these spots were mainly polluted with toxic chemicals used during the past war.
Experts confirmed that pollution levels at Bien Hoa Airport are much higher and more complex than those at Danang and Phu Cat airports nearby. They proposed further research to come up with viable solutions.
They also asked local authorities to implement urgent measures to protect local people’s health. Locals are advised to stop trading and fishing on lakes at and around the airport and to use tap water only.
The National Steering Committee 33, in charge of dealing with the consequences of the toxic chemicals used by US military during the war, presented research results to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to complete a dioxin cleanup plan at Bien Hoa Airport.
The results are also an important foundation for environmental evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Defence and the US Agency for International Development (USAid).
Bien Hoa Airport is one of the top three hotspots in Vietnam used by the US military to store defoliants containing Agent Orange/dioxin in the 1960s.
More dioxin spots found at Bien Hoa Airport Related image(s)
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