The US participates in dioxin treatment at Da Nang airport

On the morning of May 8, Vietnamese and American experts began to consider the technical design of heat-absorbing technology to treat poisoning at Da Nang airport, a hot spot for dioxin poisoning.

With the above technology, soil and mud contaminated with dioxin (also known as Agent Orange) will be transferred to the pits, where experts will increase the temperature to the point where dioxin decomposes. They then cleaned the heat-treated soil and mud.

According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the dioxin treatment technology they have applied at Da Nang airport has been tested worldwide based on environmental impact and security criteria. all. It is proven safe and effective in treating soil pollution.

Hot spots exposed to Agent Orange - dioxin at Da Nang airport
Causing fish death makes the city long ago recommended people
not raising and cultivating agricultural and aquatic products in this area. (Photo: Tra Bang)

"We fully believe that the technology is successfully and effectively applied, cleaning Danang airport. At the same time, we are committed to efficiency and safety for both field performers and surrounding areas. ", said Donald Steinberg, vice president of USAID.

"The thermal desorption technology has been carefully considered and selected by the United States. This is a modern and advanced technology that ensures the effectiveness of dioxin-contaminated lands and high safety for direct workers. to handle in the field as well as the surrounding area, " said Mr. Donald Steinberg. It is expected that the cost of implementing dioxin cleanup project at Da Nang airport is about 43 million USD.

During the war in Vietnam, the US military released more than 70 million liters of herbicide, including dioxin-containing substances in central and southern Vietnam. Dioxin is thought to be related to a variety of human diseases and malformations. Vietnam estimates that 3 million people are affected by dioxin exposure.

Danang Airport is one of the three dioxin hotspots in Vietnam. According to a study by a Canadian company, dioxin contamination at some points in this area is hundreds of times higher than the international standard safety level. The other two hot spots for dioxin in Vietnam are Bien Hoa airport in Dong Nai and Phu Cat provinces in Binh Dinh province, where the US Air Force used to store leaf killers.

The US Congress has allocated a total of 9 million USD for projects to remove residual dioxin in hot spots in Vietnam. Last year, a Vietnamese-American mixed research group published a report saying it needed $ 300 million to clean up and support Agent Orange / dioxin victims in Vietnam. Accordingly, this amount will be used for a 10-year program.