Imprints of the chemical troops in overcoming the consequences of residual post war toxic chemicals

According to domestic and foreign researchers, the area sprayed with herbicides covers about 3 million hectares of land. Many natural ecosystems have been destroyed; many dense tropical forests with many different vegetation layers have been turned into bare hills and mountains; and many mangrove forests became wastelands. According to the investigation of the 10-80 Committee, Vietnam has 28 "hot spots" contaminated with dioxin-containing toxic chemicals, including military airports and makeshift airfields that have been used by the US military during the spraying operations. In particular, the airports of Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), Da Nang, Phu Cat (Binh Dinh) and A So (Thua Thien-Hue) are the areas with dioxin contamination concentrations higher than the standard limit, negatively affecting the environment and people in both short and long terms. Researchers from Columbia University (New York - USA) has determined that as many as 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin, and millions of them are living in disease and poverty due to sequelae of Agent Orange/dioxin. Many researches done by domestic and international scientists have proven that Agent Orange/dioxin causes serious diseases such as reproductive accidents, birth defects, deformities, malformations, cancers, etc. CS poison and CS-contained weapons and vehicles remain quite large in stock. Some are stored in old warehouses and military bases; some are partly scattered in rugged forests where few people pass through, or deep in the ground, and can only be discovered by people working on the fields or in the process of site clearance… The existence of a large amount of CS poison and CS-contained weapons and vehicles not only pollutes the environment but also affects the health of the community, and hinders the production. In some localities, bad guys also use CS poison for their terrorist attempts, disrupting political security, social order and safety.

Being tasked by the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defense with overcoming the consequences of toxic residues after war, the Chemical Corps has actively researched and provided scientific arguments, advised and proposed to the Party, the State and the Ministry of National Defense on guidelines, solutions, plans and programs; proposed the selection of feasible technologies and international cooperation in overcoming the consequences of post-war chemical poisons and achieved many important results. Since 1996 to date, the Corps has carried out 20 projects and tasks to deal with residual chemical poisons after the war. It has investigated, assessed and identified contaminated sites with residual CS in 293 districts of 34 provinces and cities; collected and thoroughly treated over 460 tons of CS poison, hundreds of tons of weapons and vehicles containing CS poison and over 85 tons of ammunition; and cleaned 1,375m3 of contaminated soil. Also, it has developed a digitized map of detected and treated residual poison, serving as a basis for authorities at all levels to make plans for local socio- economic development, defense and security enhancement.

Moreover, it has investigated, surveyed and assessed the level of Agent Orange/dioxin contamination at the airports of Tan Son Nhat, Bien Hoa, Da Nang, Phu Cat, A So, Nha Trang, Tuy Hoa, Phan Rang...; treated over 220,990m3 of soil contaminated with Agent Orange/dioxin at Bien Hoa, Da Nang and Phu Cat airports; monitored the technology to treat 94,593m3 of soil contaminated with Agent Orange/dioxin by In Pile Thermal Desorption technology (IPTD) at Da Nang Airport invested by the Air Defense and Air Force Service. Currently, the Corps is accelerating the treatment of about 35,000m3 of dioxin-contaminated soil at A So airport. Together with the implementation of projects on investigation and treatment of residual chemical poisons, the Corps has also carried out four research projects to select technologies to treat toxic chemicals and dioxin and applied them in the treatment of Agent Orange/dioxin "hot spots''. Besides, it has also cooperated with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin to conduct many propaganda activities about the Agent Orange/dioxin disaster and the work of relief, care for and help the victims of Agent Orange; held scientific seminars, information exchange, scientific research and coordinated in implementing projects and tasks related to victims of Agent Orange.

The results of the corps’ treatment of post war residual chemical poisons have great significance for the country's economic, political and social development, and strengthens people's belief in the Party, the State and the Army. It has made overall assessment of the pollution situation in localities, especially important strategic ones; step by step decontaminated, restored the environment, protected public health, contributing to realizing the goal of basically solving the consequences of the chemical weapons used by the US during the war on the environment and people in Vietnam; improved the investment environment and increased the efficiency of land use, helping localities promote socio-economic development and strengthen national defense and security; provided highly reliable survey data for the Party and State to make appropriate development policies. At the same time, it has affirmed the efforts to overcome difficulties, toxic and dangerous tasks of the Chemical troops, which is really the core force along with other departments, branches, localities and forces in the area affected by chemical warfare, creating a synergy in task performance. The forces participating in the implementation of projects and tasks to overcome the consequences of toxic chemicals are increasingly challenged. They have developed political stability and high professional skills, and are ready to receive and complete all assigned tasks.

Although many policies and solutions to overcome the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin have been issued and obtained many important results, they have only partially settled the serious consequences of the chemical war caused by the US to the Vietnamese people. According to studies announced at the international scientific conference "Diseases related to Agent Orange/dioxin exposure in Vietnam - Current status and solutions to improve the effectiveness of prevention and treatment", currently dioxin contents in the sampled soil and sediments are basically below the allowable threshold concentration. However, at Bien Hoa airport, the total amount of soil and sediment contaminated with dioxin is estimated to range from 408,500m3 to 495,300m3; Da Nang airport has about 67,974m3; in A So airport, about 35,000m3 needs to be thoroughly treated. The contaminated soil in Phu Cat airport has been treated by landfill technology, however, needs to continue to be thoroughly treated when the appropriate technology is available. On the other hand, as the dioxin-contained pollution situations in the "hot spots" in our country today are very complicated, because of the high pollution concentration and the large amount of contaminated soil and sediment, the cost of thorough treatment is very high. Isolation and andfill technology only prevents dioxin from spreading to the surrounding environment.

Therefore, thoroughly handling Agent Orange/dioxin-contaminated areas, especially in "hot spots" is an urgent task, requiring the cooperation and contribution of all levels, sectors,  political system and the whole people, in which the Chemical troops need to promote their core role, drastically and synchronously implement many solutions both in the immediate and in the long terms.

First of all, the Chemical Corps has determined that it is necessary to continue to thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the guidelines and policies of the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defense on the work of overcoming the consequences of the post-war chemical poisons, focusing on Directive No. 43-CT/TW dated May 14, 2015 of the Secretariat (11th tenure) on strengthening the leadership of the Party in dealing with the consequences of chemical poisons used by the US during the Vietnam War; Decision No. 2887/QD-BQP dated July 28, 2014 of the Minister of National Defense approving the “Strategy of environmental protection of the Ministry of Defense to 2020, with a vision to 2030”; the National program on combating climate change in the Military and the "Strategy for environmental protection of the Ministry of National Defense to 2030, with a vision to 2050", Directive No. 05/CT-BQP dated February 3, 2017 of the Minister of National Defense "On the implementation of projects and programs to overcome and handle chemical poisons in the Military".

Actively and proactively advise, propose, participate in the development and completion of relevant legal documents, ensuring the uniformity and consistency, in which reviewing and perfecting standards and regulations for monitoring, assessment and treatment of Agent Orange/dioxin in the direction of ensuring safety for human health and the environment, in accordance with international regulations and specifics of Agent Orange/dioxin pollution in Vietnam. At the same time, promote propaganda activities, raise awareness and responsibility of all levels, sectors, officials, soldiers and people to proactively prevent exposure and minimize negative impacts of the remnant toxic chemicals, contributing to stabilizing political security, social order and safety, economic and cultural development, and the improvement of living standards. Coordinate with the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin to conduct propaganda activities about the Agent Orange disaster and the concern and care of the Party committees, authorities, people and the Military for AO victims.

Implement projects and tasks to overcome the consequences of residual toxic chemicals after the war and protect the environment in accordance with the objectives, contents and scale of investment. Accelerate the treatment of Agent Orange/dioxin in "hot spots", continue to investigate, evaluate, zone, control and handle newly discovered contaminated areas. Implement the project "Treatment of dioxin-contaminated soil at A So airport (A Luoi, Thua Thien-Hue)" invested by the Chemical Corps; direct the National Action Center for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET) to closely coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to implement projects to support improvement of the quality of life of people with disabilities in 8 provinces heavily sprayed with Agent Orange (funded by the United States Agency for International Development - USAID). At the same time, control and warn of exposure risks to humans and the environment, and prevent the increase of victims in polluted areas.

Train, foster, select and build a contingent of qualified cadres and experts in the field of handling residual toxic chemicals after war, and master and transfer technology to treat environmental pollution in towards synchronicity, sufficient quantity, and improved quality. Formulate mechanisms and policies on recruitment and use of scientific and technological staff; create motivation and ensure practical benefits to promote the creativity of scientific researchers; apply special and appropriate remuneration mechanisms and policies for individuals with outstanding achievements in science and technology activities; encourage, stimulate and create an environment and motivation for young cadres and scientists in research and application of scientific and technological achievements in performing the task of overcoming the residual chemical poisons and environmental protection. Along with that, have investments to modernize NACET in the direction of in-depth, specificity and suitability with functions and tasks. Invest in modern equipment and technology for dioxin sampling, analysis, research, treatment and monitoring. Acquire and master equipment under the project "Receiving dioxin and environmental analysis equipment funded by the Japanese government".

One of the important issues in overcoming the consequences of residual toxic chemicals after the war is the treatment technology with requirements of effectiveness, suitability to the specific conditions of our country, cost and labor-effectiveness. On the basis of major orientations of the Government and the Ministry of National Defense on research and application of technological solutions to treat residual toxic chemicals, it is necessary to continue to conduct research, test, and select technologies for radical treatment of Agent Orange/dioxin in soil and sediment suitable for Vietnamese conditions. Currently, a number of dioxin treatment technologies have been tested and applied such as landfill technology, biotechnology, New Zealand's mechanical chemical decomposition (MCD) technology, TCH technology, specifically the IPTD system… In 2021, the Shimizu Corporation (Japan) coordinated with the Center for Environmental Treatment Technology (Chemical Command) to carry out a pilot project to treat Bien Hoa soil with soil washing technology. Test results showed that washed soil with dioxin content reaches QCVN 45 for urban, recreational and commercial land. Besides, samples of soil, water, and air around the treatment area are also analyzed and evaluated to ensure safety during and after testing, without adversely affecting the environment and people at the test site and the surrounding area. However, each technological solution has its own advantages and disadvantages that need to be further tested and evaluated, in order to perfect the technology to widely apply and thoroughly treat contaminated soil and sediment which are very large in volume and complicated in our country today. Deploy the cooperation project with Shimizu Corporation (Japan), Cepthemodyne Group (USA) and Heamer Technoloy Company (Belgium) to test dioxin treatment technologies at Bien Hoa airport; at the same time, continue to propose testing technology to thoroughly treat dioxin-contaminated soil with partners in order to find feasible technologies suitable to Vietnam's conditions.

The overcoming of the consequences of the residual toxic chemicals after the war not only depends on the efforts of the Corps, but also needs the support and help of the international community. Therefore, it is necessary to promote international cooperation in the field of Agent Orange/dioxin handling, in order to continue to research and confirm the effects of the herbicides used by the US Military during the Vietnam War on the environment and human health; exchange experiences on Agent Orange/dioxin decontamination; mobilize scientific and technological, and financial resources; train human resources and strengthen and upgrade research facilities and decontaminate technology. It is necessary to enlist financial and technological support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ford Foundation, the Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation, the Bill and Milindagatcs Foundation, JAC US-VN, GEF and many other non-governmental organizations to implement programs and projects to overcome the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam.

Overcoming the post-war consequences of residual toxic chemicals remains an urgent, regular, long-term task with profound humanitarian significance. With political responsibility, professional qualifications, and increasingly modern equipment, the Chemical Corps will fulfill its key role in dealing with residual toxic chemicals after war, making an important contribution to the country’s development./.

Major General Ha Van Cu

Commander of the Chemical Corps