Hatfield presents results of latest research at Da Nang at the fourth annual U.S.-Viet Nam bilateral joint advisory committee meeting on Agent Orange/ dioxin

Sep 23, 2009

Hatfield and the Government of Viet Nam presented the results of the Comprehensive Assessment of Dioxin Contamination in Da Nang Airport, Viet Nam: Environmental Levels, Human Exposure and Options for Mitigating Impacts study at the fourth annual U.S. – Viet Nam bilateral joint advisory committee meeting on Agent Orange/ dioxin on September 8th, 2009. Following this presentation, Hatfield’s study was reported in the Chicago Tribune, by the AFP, and by the Associated Press (see links below).

Since 1994, Hatfield has undertaken a major toxic chemical management program in Viet Nam to assess and mitigate the impacts of Agent Orange dioxin on the environment and in the human population. High levels of Agent Orange dioxin contamination recorded at the Da Nang Airport has made this site a priority study area for the Vietnamese and US Governments. Over the last five years, Hatfield, with the support of the Office of the National Steering Committee 33, the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense and the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Centre (VRTC), has undertaken a comprehensive assessment of Agent Orange contamination in and around the Airport. The assessment involved environmental and human tissue sampling and human health surveys. Based on study results, a number of mitigation measures have been recommended by Hatfield and Office 33 to reduce contaminant exposure before complete site remediation.

Hatfield’s work in this area has been recognized by the international community as the most comprehensive investigation of dioxin exposure in Vietnam.

Report Availability

A copy of the Comprehensive Assessment of Dioxin Contamination in Da Nang Airport, Viet Nam: Environmental Levels, Human Exposure and Options for Mitigating Impacts report is available  on Hatfield’s website.

 Download the report (PDF, 6.28 MB)

Additional Information

To learn more about Hatfield’s Agent Orange investigations, visit Hatfield’s web-page dedicated to Hatfield’s ongoing Agent Orange projects.

To read recent articles about Hatfield’s Agent Orange investigations:

• AFP – US, Vietnam face Agent Orange legacy by Ian Timberlake (Sept 23, 2009)
• Chicago Tribune – Toxin in Agent Orange still polluting South Vietnam, study says by Jason Grotto (Sept 13, 2009)
• Associated Press – Survey: Dioxin levels high in Vietnam near US base by Ben Stocking (Sept 11, 2009)

Images

Blood sampling, Thanh Khe Medical Centre, Da Nang (full size version)	Drainage canal near Agent Orange storage location (full size version)
Harvesting spinach, Thanh Khe District (full size version)	Agent Orange Storage Area Soil Sampling (full size version)

For more information, please contact us:

Thomas Boivin
President
HATFIELD CONSULTANTS PARTNERSHIP

E-mail: hcp@hatfieldgroup.com
Tel.: +1 604 926 3261
Toll-Free: 1 866 926 3261