At the seminar, Dr Lê Kế Sơn - a former official at the Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment stressed the serious consequences of Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin in Vietnam. Thousands of children continue to suffer from congenital birth defects and a large part of the country remains contaminated.
"The number of Vietnamese exposed to AO/Dioxin ranges from 2.1 to 4.8 million people. This consequence can’t be measured by money alone, particularly in terms of the birth defects in children. The environment is also badly affected. Dioxin absorbed into soil will wipe out areas of forest and decrease animal life." - Dr. Le Ke Son, Former Deputy Director, Vietnam Environmet Administration, Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment.
Research in 2009 revealed that between 1961 to 1972 the US military spread 79 million litres of herbicide in southern Vietnam, of which, 46 million litres contained dioxin. Dioxin decontamination is a huge taste for Vietnam, and it requires international support.
"Many countries and international organisations have supported Vietnam technically. USAID is now applying a thermal desorption method in Đà Nẵng and it is working well. However, a large amount of money is still needed. New Zealand is now also conducting a project in Vietnam." - Col. Lam Vinh Anh, Head, Agent Orange/Dioxin Decomtamination Technology Project, Ministry of National Defence.
"When it comes to AO/Dioxin decontamination in Vietnam, I think Vietnam should apply the methods of cleansing and baking contaminated soil. Cleansing will reduce the area of contaminated land and baking will wipe out the dioxin residue in soil." - Dr. Mitsuo Mouri, Shimizu Company, Japan.
Experts also said that in the coming time Vietnam will have to improve its legal system and standards on the amount of dioxin residues in hotspot areas. Vietnam also needs to issue specific criteria on choosing dioxin decontamination technologies and enhance the capacity of state agencies in AO/Dioxin-related issues.
