SUMMARY OF DIOXIN CONTAMINATION AT THE BIEN HOA, PHU CAT AND DA NANG AIRBASES, VIET NAM

Transcription

1 SUMMARY OF DIOXIN CONTAMINATION AT THE BIEN HOA, PHU CAT AND DA NANG AIRBASES, VIET NAM Hatfield Consultants and Office of the National Steering Committee 33 Research Supported by a Grant from the Ford Foundation to Office of the National Steering Committee 33 Prepared for: Meeting of the US-Vietnam Dialogue Group On Agent Orange/Dioxin Washington D.C., June 2, 2009 SLIDE 1

2 Introduction and Background Since 1994, Hatfield has worked with Vietnamese Government partners on the Agent Orange issue in Viet Nam; Initial studies were conducted in A Luoi District in Hue Province, where the Hot Spot Theory was developed; Areas sprayed with herbicides now have low levels of dioxin former US Airbases are highly contaminated, given widespread storage and use of herbicides; Ford Foundation has supported studies to identify all known hotspots in Viet Nam; Da Nang Airbase has been subject to intense study to assess environmental dioxin levels and human impacts; Bien Hoa and Phu Cat are other key hotspots others may also exist. SLIDE 2

3 Ford Foundation Funded Studies: Comprehensive review of literature on AO use and storage in Viet Nam (2003/2004); Preliminary field sampling and analysis of suspected Hot Spots (2004/2005); Initial investigation at Da Nang (December 2006) Pacer Ivy Sites Identified (May 2007); Complete Da Nang Project Initiated 2008: Assessment of Environmental Levels January 2009; Assessment of Human Levels April 2009; Final Report August SLIDE 3

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5 Standards Based Approach Dioxin/furan and other contaminants were compared with international standards/guidelines; Standards vary between countries; Generally, TEQs should not exceed: Soils >1,000 ppt (USEPA, ATSDR, Canada); Sediments >100 ppt (US-Cook et. al. 1993); Values should be lower for Viet Nam, given close contact with environment, and reliance on local natural resources for livelihoods. SLIDE 5

6 ATSDR Guidelines US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR 1997) Action Level for Soils >1,000 ppt T-TEQ Surveillance Research Health Studies Community Education Physician Education Exposure Investigations SLIDE 6

7 Seven Sites Identified as Key Suspected Hot Spots*, Da Nang 2. Pleiku 3. Phu Cat 4. Nha Trang 5. Bien Hoa 6. Tan Son Nhut 7. Can Tho Based on potentially high risk to human health * Other sites may also exist SLIDE 7

8 General Recommendations (1) The Problem is Manageable: Dioxin contamination in Viet Nam is localized around former US military installations; The vast majority of the land and agricultural & fisheries products in Viet Nam are not contaminated by dioxins; Technologies are available to clean up the hotspots, but international support is needed. Hatfield Consultants. All Rights Reserved. SLIDE 8

9 General Recommendations (2) Areas aerially sprayed with Agent Orange during the war are not contaminated with high levels of dioxin today. This is good news for the future health of people, and for the economic development of Viet Nam. Hatfield Consultants. All Rights Reserved. SLIDE 9

10 General Recommendations (3) Bien Hoa, Da Nang, and Phu Cat military bases are rated as significant dioxin hot spots. Concerns: 1. Local residents who have regular, direct contact with soils, living in close proximity to these bases; 2. People who consume locally produced fish, ducks and aquatic organisms (especially fatty tissues) from lakes near these 3 bases. Hatfield Consultants. All Rights Reserved. SLIDE 10

11 Figure 1 Summary of TCDD values (pg/g dry weight) for soil and sediment samples analyzed in Da Nang, Viet Nam, 2005, 2006, and , ,000 Phu Loc River Da Nang Bay «1 «2 ) ) 1,778,000 ) ) ) 1,778,000 1,776,000 ) 1,776,000 1,774,000 1,774, , ,000 LEGEND Airport Boundary Open Water Wetted Extent Da Nang City Storm Drain Drainage Ditch Former Army Barracks Soil & Sediment Sample TCDD values (pg/g dry weight) < ,000 1,000-10,000 10, ,000 > 100,000 «1 «2 Viet Nam Former Mixing and Loading Area Former Storage Area Soil & Sediment Sample Site Map Extent Ikonos Imagery, August 5, km Scale 1:21,000 Projection: UTM Zone 49N WGS 84 K:\Data\Project\DANDI1450\GIS\_MXD\06CBSummary\DANDI1450_CBSummary_ a.mxd t

12 Results and Recommendations for Da Nang Airbase 1. High concentrations of 2,3,7,8-TCDD contaminate soils and sediments at the north end of Da Nang Airbase (up to 365,000 ppt) south end is very low (Pacer Ivy Area); 2. The source of this contamination was war-time use of Agent Orange (>90% TEQ was from 2,3,7,8-TCDD). 3. The food-chain outside the airbase is being contaminated primarily through sediment/soil transport to aquatic organisms (fish, other animals, lotus); 4. Blood dioxin levels were the highest reported for Viet Nam to date; 5. Interim mitigation measures have been implemented with assistance from Ford Foundation; 6. Final dioxin assessment results for entire airbase to be released in August SLIDE 12

13 Figure 2 Summary of TCDD values (pg/g dry weight) for soil and sediment samples analyzed in Bien Hoa, Viet Nam, 2004, 2005, and , ,000 LEGEND 1,214,000 Pacer Ivy Area (Site B) ) 1,214,000 Soil & Sediment Sample TCDD values (pg/g dry weight) < ,000 1,000-10,000 10, ,000 > 100,000 Soil & Sediment Sample Site 2004 and ,212,000 Southwest Airbase Corner (Site A) ) ) ) Perimeter and Ponds/Lakes of the Z1 Area 1,212,000 Viet Nam ) km Scale: 1:18,000 Data Source: Quickbird Projection: UTM Zone 49 North WGS 84 t 698, ,000 K:\Data\Project\UNDP1391\GIS\_MXD\BienHoa_CB_ a.mxd

14 Results and Recommendations for Bien Hoa Airbase Dioxin concentrations remain extremely high (up to 185,000 ppt) in the Airbase. Contamination appears to be widespread, and occurs at several locations the exact extent is currently unknown; Mitigation measures are needed to reduce potential exposure of the human population; Sampling and analysis of aquatic organisms, especially fish, should be undertaken in all lakes and ponds in Bien Hoa Airbase, and outside the Airbase, to determine if there is any human health risk from consumption of these organisms. SLIDE 14

15 Figure 3 Summary of TCDD values (pg/g dry weight) for soil and sediment samples analyzed in Phu Cat, Viet Nam, 2004, 2005, and , , ,000 1,546,000 1,546,000 LEGEND Soil & Sediment Sample TCDD values (pg/g dry weight) < ,000 1,000-10,000 10, ,000 > 100,000 Soil & Sediment Sample Site 2004 and ,544,000 Former Loading and Storage Area )) ) ) ) ) )) Perimeter Area ) ) ) ) )) )) ) )) ) ) Lake A Former Washing Area ) Lake B )) Sedimentation Tanks Lake C 1,544,000 Viet Nam )) ) ) ) )) ) Southeast Corner of Airbase 1,542, , , ,000 1,542, km Scale 1:21,000 Data Source: Quickbird Projection: UTM Zone 49 North WGS 84 K:\Data\Project\UNDP1391\GIS\_MXD\PhuCat_CB_ a.mxd t

16 Results and Recommendations for Phu Cat Airbase Dioxin concentrations in the Storage Area are high (up to 236,000 pg/g TCDD), and are comparable to those found at Bien Hoa and Da Nang. Soil in this area should be permanently contained or treated immediately to reduce risk of exposure for Airbase workers and populations living downstream of the Airbase; In most other areas of the Airbase, dioxin concentrations are low, and do not represent a threat to human health or the environment. SLIDE 16

17 General Recommendations (4) For People Living Near the 3 Main Hot Spot Areas: 1. Reducing dioxin exposure for human populations living near the Hot Spots is the first priority. 2. Community-based awareness raising programs are needed. 3. Assessment of potentially exposed populations is required. Hatfield Consultants. All Rights Reserved. SLIDE 17

18 General Recommendations (5) International collaboration and information sharing is key to moving the process forward; Need to protect future generations of Vietnamese from exposure to dioxin and other toxic chemicals; Financial and technical support is required from the international community. Hatfield Consultants. All Rights Reserved. SLIDE 18

19 Thank You THANK YOU HATFIELD CONSULTANTS Bellevue Ave. West Vancouver, BC, CANADA V7V 1A6 phone Hatfield Consultants. All Rights Reserved. SLIDE 19