The event attracted the participation of scientists from nations sharing the Mekong river basin including Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.

Scientists will spend two-days visiting Tram Chim-Tam Nong National Park in the southern province of Dong Thap to make a factual survey on the issue.

The scientists said POPs have harmed people’s health and environmental pollution all over the world.

“Mekong river basin is one of the world’s most important rivers in supporting people’s lives through agriculture, and seafood aquaculture, they said. Currently, there are few studies on POPs in the Mekong River.

Under sponsorship from the US Department of State, the project on environmental pollution of POPs in the Mekong River Delta is part of the US’s Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) led by US Secretary of State Hillary Clionton. Under the project, the US will cooperate with Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand to cope with challenges in education, the environment and health.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Clune affirmed that the LMI has reflected strong cooperation between the US and related nations in the fields of the environment, health, education and infrastructure.