Dioxin-contaminated soil clean-up project started
A dioxin-contaminated soil clean-up project at A So Airport in A Luoi district, central Thua Thien-Hue province, began on October 2.
Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh and leaders of ministries, agencies, and international organisations attended the opening.
From 1961 to 1971, over 432,800 gallons of defoliants containing 11 kg of dioxin were stored at the airport. Nearly 16,000 local residents have been infected with Agent Orange/dioxin as a result, including 5,000 in A Luoi district.
A survey revealed that as many as 35,000 cu.m. of dioxin-contaminated soil at the airport needs to be treated.
Approved by the Defence Ministry in March, the project will be carried out over two years by the Chemicals Command, using landfill technology.
