National Plan to treat pollutants difficult to decompose

National Plan on Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants approved by the Prime Minister in Decision 184. Up to now, Vietnam has banned the use of 9/12 plant protection drugs (plant protection). toxic organic substances.

Stockholm Convention officially came into effect on May 14, 2004.The Convention aims to protect life and the natural environment - especially for the poor and poor countries - by banning the production and use of some toxic chemicals, especially Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins , furans, and 9 very toxic pesticides.The Convention also requires thorough treatment of places where pesticides and toxic chemicals containing POPs are stored, as well as the disposal of PCBs and waste containing PCBs.(Source: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment)

Participating in this convention, Vietnam will build and perfect the legal system to manage chemical safety, reduce and proceed to remove persistent organic pollutants.

At the same time, prevention, control and safe handling of these substances; proceed to control, process and completely dispose of pesticide depots - very toxic chemicals that have been removed and left in 2010.

The plan also aims to thoroughly handle hot areas of pesticide and dioxins contamination from toxic chemicals used by the US during the Vietnam War.

In addition, the amount of PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyles) emitted into the environment is also minimized; strive to eliminate the use of PCBs in equipment, machinery by 2020 and safely dispose of PCBs by 2028. Continuously minimize the emissions of persistent organic pollutants formed unintentionally ( Dioxins and Furans).

Of the 12 substances or groups of toxic organic chemicals, including Aldrin, Chlordane, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Hexachlorobenzenne, Mirex, Toxaphene, DDT, PCB, Dioxins and Furans, our country has banned the use of 9 types at this point. Pesticides are persistent organic pollutants and limit the import and use of PCBs.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs - persistent Organic Pollutants) are very toxic chemicals that persist in the environment and are difficult to decompose.

They have the ability to spread widely and bioaccumulate highly in the tissues of the organism, causing serious harm to human health (causing reproductive, neurological, immune, cancer, injury genes .), biodiversity and habitat.

A family is a victim of Dioxins affected by the United States
drop down in the Vietnam war in 1965 (Photo: chicagofreespeechzone)

According to published data, Vietnam still has a volume of PCB containing oil up to 19,000 tons, mainly from old-style electric transformers. Total hazardous waste in 2003 is estimated at 160,000 tons per year, of which 130,000 tons from industrial wastes, 21,000 tons from medical wastes of hospitals, clinics and sanatoriums, and 8,600 tons from agricultural production. In addition, some areas have residues of dioxins and furans in the soil as a result of using 72 million liters of herbicides during the war period 1961-1971.

H. Method