Each year, 85 thousand tons of grease, chemicals and metals are released into the sea

According to estimates by the Vietnam General Department of Sea and Islands (MONRE), there are nearly 20 thousand tons of oil and grease; nearly 16 thousand tons of plant protection chemicals and about 45 thousand tons of heavy metals discharged into the sea each year.

Scientists at the Institute of Biotechnology (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) are studying
Save laboratory microorganisms to treat oil pollution at sea.
(Photo: Minh Cuong)

The main types of waste discharged into the sea are domestic waste from concentrated urban areas and coastal tourism areas, industrial waste from economic zones, craft villages, processing facilities . and agricultural waste from livestock, aquaculture and plant protection chemicals from the field.

More alarming is the waste from oil spills, oil leaks from drilling rigs and oil transport, especially in the Central region, oil spills are not known for every 3 - 4 months.

According to statistics, in 20 years (1989 - 2009) there were over 100 oil spills. These cases poured into the sea a large amount of oil from a few dozen to hundreds of tons of oil. The Institute of Environmental Research and Sustainable Development (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences) said that every year, the amount of oil transported through the East Sea is about 2.1 billion tons and regularly has over 50 large tankers active in the area. If it is assumed that only 1% of oil leaked out, the amount of oil spilled would amount to 20 million tons per year.