High dioxin pollution found in soil of former US airbases
Ha Noi, March 14 (VNA) -- High dioxin pollution is still found in the soil of former US airbases in southern Viet Nam, reports the Viet Nam Red Cross's Fund for Agent Orange Victims Executive Director, Le Cao Dai.
Dai says a 1998 Canadian study shows that a high level of dioxin (897 ppt) still exists in soil of a former airbase in A So village of A Luoi district, central Thua Thien-Hue province, and nearby areas.
Dioxin levels in the surveyed area is 15 times higher than in non-toxic chemical sprayed areas.
Another study of dioxin in the blood of inhabitants living near the Bien Hoa airport of southern Dong Nai province - shows dioxin levels between 30 and 135 times higher than for non-exposed people.
The highest dioxin level measured in Bien Hoa by Erhime-Osaka University was 1,000 times higher than the US Environment Department's standard.
Dioxin pollution has caused high rates of cancer and birth defects among inhabitants living near these airports, Dai says and many families have all their members suffering from the effect of toxic chemicals.
For example, Nguyen Thi Nham, her husband and twin sons, born in 1981, have dioxin levels in their blood from 20 to 30 times higher than the normal.
The couple moved to toxic-chemical sprayed areas from the north in 1977.
Dr.Dai adds that the effects of toxic chemicals, including Agent Orange, are a threat to the Vietnamese people. In addition to the toxic chemical sprayed from the air by the U.S., chemical warehouses built inside former U.S. airbases remain a source of dioxin contamination to the surrounding population.
Dr. Dai wants the US Government and international organizations help to end the harmful effects of Agent Orange and its contaminants.--VNA
