Latest researches in 2013 have found more dioxin-contaminated spots inside and in the west of Bien Hoa airport, the southern province of Dong Nai.

The information was released at a workshop on the dioxin contamination in Bien Hoa airport held in Hanoi on March 10. The event was co-organised by the Office of the National Steering Committee on overcoming the consequences of toxic chemicals used by the US during the war in Vietnam and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Director of the office Le Ke Son said the concentration in 16 of the 28 explored lakes is found to surpass permitted levels. Notably, some newly-digged lakes and those located higher than the airport are also contaminated.

Experts said the contamination at Bien Hoa airport is higher than that in Da Nang and Phu Cat airports, two other dioxin hotspots in Vietnam, and called for further observation to draw a panoramic view on the dioxin contamination there, thus devising appropriate remedies.

Some contaminated spots in the area were once used by the US as places to keep and load herbicides onto aircraft or wash vehicles after spraying the chemicals.

Basing on such facts, experts recommended locals not to use lake water or fishing and doing business activities by the lakes.

The researches were conducted under the “Environmental Remediation of Dioxin Contaminated Hotspots” project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and UNDP.-VNA