South Korea Experts Help Vietnam Clean Dioxin

Experts from the Republic of Korea have participated in a conference in Hanoi earlier this week to address measures to clean up soil contaminated with Agent Orange/dioxin left in the Vietnam War. The event is part of the cooperation mentioned in a memorandum of understanding signed last year by Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE) and South Korea’s Biological Company. South Korea’s scientists express their viewpoints on microbiological measures to treat the toxic chemical and solutions for soil improvements to suit agriculture. Over the past two years, the two sides have conducted researches tackling dioxin integrated with improving environment and enhancing local livelihood. Vietnam is estimated to have 4.8 million of people vulnerable to dioxin contamination after the U.S. troops between 1961 and 1971 sprayed about 80 million liters of defoliants including the highly toxic AO over 10% of total areas in the southern region during the Vietnam War. Former U.S. troop’s airbases namely Bien Hoa, Phu Cat and Danang airports in the country’s central region are the worst known sites for dioxin. Dioxin levels in Bien Hoa airport which is located in the southern province of Dong Nai at 262,000 parts per trillion (ppt) toxic equivalent (TEQ) in soil, compared to the world’s permitted level of 1,000 ppt while the rate in Phu Cat base in the central province of Binh Dinh at 236,000 ppt. (Hanoi Moi – News Hanoi Sept 9 p6)