A Shau Special Forces Base: Birth Place of Dioxin Hot Spot Theory (Photo: Larry Wagoner - 1969)

DIOXIN HOT SPOTS IN VIETNAM:

FROM THEORY TO REALITY
Quang M. Nguyen, P.E.
January 2007
INTRODUCTION
Following the Joint United States (US)
Vietnam Scientific Conference on Human
Health and Environmental Effects of Agent
Orange/Dioxin, which was held in Hanoi,
Vietnam on March 3-6, 2002, representatives
from the Vietnam and US governments
reached an agreement for future research
activities described in a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) signed on March 10,
2002. Major research activities include a
direct research on human health outcomes
from exposure to dioxin and a research on
the environmental and ecological effects of
dioxin and agent orange. Priorities for these
researches focus on existing populations with
high exposures to dioxin, i.e., living near
hot spots, and on the identification,
characterization and remediation of hot
spots.
US and Vietnam representatives at the conference
According to the MOU, "hot spots" are areas
containing high levels of dioxin in soil, some
have been identified and others are
presumed to exist but have yet to be located.
Two areas of research that were agreed to be
further developed include ecological and
restoration research on a degraded upland
forest such as the Ma Da forest and research
on the identification, characterization, and
remediation of hot spots such as the Danang
airport (1). These specific sites were
recommended by Vietnamese scientists.
This was not the first time the dioxin hot
spots in Vietnam were mentioned. In fact,
they were publicized in 1998 following
studies conducted jointly by Hatfield
Consultants Ltd. of West Vancouver, Canada
(HCL) and the National Committee to
Investigate the Results of Chemical Warfare
in Vietnam (10-80 Committee) to determine
dioxin levels in the Vietnam environment (2).
They are the focal point of the so-called
Hatfield hot spot theory and have been the
subject for numerous reports and articles
prepared by HCL (3-6). As a result, HCL was
recently retained by the Vietnamese
Governments National Steering Committee
for Overcoming the Consequences of Toxic
Chemicals Used by the United States During
the War in Viet Nam (33 Committee) to
conduct studies ... to contain the spread of
dioxin around Danang airport, and to assess
how to protect the health of
people living in the surrounding
communities. (7) These studies
are funded by a grant from Ford
Foundation.
Do the dioxin hot spots actually
exist in Vietnam today? And if
any, how hot are they? This
paper was prepared in an
attempt to answer these
questions.
HATFIELD HOT SPOT THEORY
According to HCL, all former US
military installations may be
categorized (theorized) as dioxin hot spots in
Vietnam. The theory was probably
developed after 2,3,7,8-trichlorodibenzo-p-
dioxin (dioxin, TCDD or T4CDD) was
detected in one soil sample collected from
the former A Shau military base in 1997 at a
concentration of 897.85 parts per trillion
(ppt), which exceeds 350 ppt Total Toxicity
Equivalents (Total TEQs), the agricultural and
residential/park land standards for human
health protection in Canada (8). Although
the dioxin concentrations in the follow-up soil
samples collected at the same location in
1
1999 do not exceed 350 ppt Total TEQs, HCL Orange was spilled, applied by truck-
has maintained its hot spot theory probably mounted sprayers, including intensive
because ... even if a base was categorized perimeter spraying of bases, etc., thereby
as not significantly contaminated, the base effecting [affecting] a dioxin loading to soils
may still be hot if the exact location of that was significantly higher than that
Ranch Hand activities were identified and resulting from aerial spray applications. The
sampled. (6) highest concentration of TCDD in soils was
collected from within the boundaries of a
The Total TEQs are used to assess the risk of former US Special Forces base in the Aluoi
exposure to a combination of dioxin-like Valley (Dwernychuk et al., 2002); soil
compounds. It is defined as the product of samples originated from the former
the concentration, Ci, of an individual personnel camp. Two other former bases in
"dioxin-like compound" and the the valley, operational for a shorter period of
corresponding TCDD toxicity equivalency time, also had soils TCDD levels that were
factor (TEFi) for that compound. The Total generally higher than aerially spray regions...
TEQs is the sum of the TEQs for each of the Ranch Hand bases at Bien Hoa and Da Nang
congeners: are examples of major hot spots. A TCDD
n concentration in soil from Bien Hoa was
Total TEQs = C i xTEFi reported up to 1.2 million parts per trillion
i =1 (ppt) (Schecter et al., 2001). Anecdotal
The Hatfield hot spot theory has been information from Vietnamese scientists
discussed in several professional papers suggests soil dioxin levels from Da Nang are
prepared by HCL. Sites where soil dioxin in the several hundred thousand ppt ranges.
levels are found to be high may be (5)
categorized as Agent Orange/dioxin hot
spots. We elected to
focus on an Hatfield Consultants Ltd. theorizes that the pattern of TCDD contamination
environmental recorded in the Aluoi Valley [soil concentrations exceed the British Columbia
component of the (Canada) standard of 350 ppt TEQs] serves as a model for contamination
Aluoi Valley, soils, as a throughout southern Vietnam, where numerous reservoirs of TCDD exist
marker medium for in the soil at former US military installations.
defining hot spots. Military bases listed as dioxin hot spots during our investigations were
Given that soil categorized on the basis of dioxin levels recorded at sampling sites
contamination in the distributed near each installation. As noted above, primary sites of
valley is the precursor contamination were not identified/sampled; therefore, even if a base is
to present-day food categorized as not significantly contaminated, the base may still be hot
chain and human if the exact location of Ranch Hand activities were identified and sampled.
contamination, it Exclusion from the hot category does not necessarily mean a former
follows that dioxin US military base in Vietnam is not contaminated, but indicative that
levels in soil be used based on limited sampling; no significant contamination was identified
as the principal (i.e., significant, in this study, is defined as 190 pg/g [ppt] TCDD).
defining factor of a hot
spot. (4)
The former US airbases at Da Nang, Phu
Hot spots labeled by Hatfield exist today, Cat, and Bien Hoa may be categorized as
that is, soils that have very high TCDD levels significant dioxin hot spots on the basis of
due to higher levels of TCDD loading during the TCDD concentrations recorded in areas
the conflict. A significant point is that downstream of suspected Ranch Hand sites.
Hatfield hot spots are not the expansive Suspected primary sites were not sampled
forested areas targeted by routine flights of directly in this study due to restricted access
Operation Ranch Hand, the US military code by Vietnamese authorities. However, the
name for the spray program... Hot spots elevated TCDD values (Table 1), suggest
that exist today are soils where Agent significant involvement of Agent Orange

2
herbicide in the overall toxicity of these
soil/sediment samples, given that TCDD was
the characteristic dioxin congener in Agent
Orange... Exclusion from the hot category
does not necessarily mean a former US
military base in Viet Nam is not
contaminated, but is indicative that based on
limited sampling; no significant
contamination was identified (i.e., significant,
in this study, is defined as 190 pg/g
[picograms per gram or ppt] TCDD). (6)
HERBICIDE INCIDENTS
DURING WAR TIME
Incidents relating to the use of herbicides
during the Vietnam war such as storage
leakages, emergency dumps or leakages
from the Ranch Hand aircrafts, and damages
to trees and crops were documented in
numerous classified documents. These
documents; which include memoranda,
notes, and reports describing results from
the incident investigations; have recently
been unclassified and made available to the
public through the Center for Unit Records
Research of the US Armed Services
(USAS/CURR) in Springfield, Virginia. Major
incidents are summarized below.
Herbicide Leakages at Bien Hoa Air Base
Location of the Ranch Hand operational area at Bien Hoa Air Base
Bien Hoa Air Base was the largest of the five
operational bases used for the Ranch Hand
Operation including Tan Son Nhut (Saigon),
Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Cat (Qui Nhon)
Air Bases. Majority of the Ranch Hand
defoliation missions carried out between
December 1966 and July 1970 were
originated from this air base (9).
According to the memorandum prepared by
Lieutenant Colonel Keith W. West,
Commander of the 12th Special Operations
Squadron (SOS) for the Ranch Hand
operation at Bien Hoa Air Base, herbicide
leakages were caused by problems in the
underground pipe system of the new storage
and handling facility. The facility, which was
placed into services on January 14, 1970,
allowed three types of herbicides (white,
blue, and orange) in the storage tanks to be
loaded into the Ranch Hand aircrafts parked
in the washing and loading area. The
underground pipes are of a plastic material
which are [is] supposed to withstand up to
300 PSI [pounds per square inch]. The
maximum pressure used in reservicing of the
aircraft is approximately 45 to 65 PSI. Since
all of the pipes are underground it is
impossible to detect a leak unless there is a
drop in the pressure in the servicing line.
Each day the amount in each storage tank is
monitored against the amount in the tank
minus the amount
pumped into the aircraft.
This is about the only
method available to
determine if there is
spillage [?]. (10)
On January 15, 1970, less
than 500 gallons of agent
white was leaked from a
broken T coupling on the
underground pipe. No
surface run-off occurred;
all spillage was absorbed
in the soil in the
immediate vicinity of the
break. (10) On February
5 and 6, 1970, problems
at an elbow coupling on
the underground pipe caused a total of less
than 1,000 gallons of agent orange to leak
3
from the underground pipe, but the leakage
status was not reported. During the first
week of February 1970, another problem
occurred at the underground manifold area
due to a slip coupling. Less than 500 gallons
of agent orange was leaked, but the leakage
status was not reported.
The major incident probably occurred on
February 28, 1970 with approximately 7,500
gallons of agent orange estimated to leak
through a -inch hole on the underground
pipe. At about 0730 on 1 March 1970, Capt
Iorcross, 12SOS was notified by TSgt Webb,
HCOIC of the Herbicide Section, that there
was evidence of a [an] underground leak in
the herbicide system. The Civil Engineering
Section was notified to dig up the pipe, all
systems valves were closed and the area dug
up. It was discovered that a inch hole had
burst through a straight length of pipe in the
underground portion of the Orange manifold
between servicing pits S-13 and S-12
(reference master base parking plan for
BHAB, RVN on file in Chief of Maintenance,
3TFW). At this time the 12th SOS duty officer
was notified and a reading taken on the
quantity of herbicide remaining in the orange
servicing tank. After accounting for the
previous nights servicing, 3 feet (approx.
7500 gallons) of herbicide was determined to
be missing.
A herbicide storage tank at Bien Hoa Air Base (9)
The leak was corrected by installing a
Dresser coupling around the damaged area
of the pipe. A dirt dike was constructed
immediately to contain surface run-off
(estimated at 100 gallons).
A locally manufactured earthwork dam was
later constructed downstream of the
underground plumbing system to contain
future piping failures. On about 7 March the
Squadron flight surgeon was contacted to
determine what means existed to sample
water and soil in the area of herbicide
contamination. If local control procedures
were changed to shut off all valves in the
system at night except when actually
servicing. Since all system indications
(pressure at the pump and flow of herbicide
at the servicing nozzle) had remained
normal, this action was considered necessary
to limit similar undetected failures.
Maj Altum, MACV J3-09, was contacted
during a staff visit approximately two weeks
later. This spill was mentioned, along with
local corrective actions, and the necssity
[necessity] for some sort of testing to
determine the effects of piping failures was
brought up. The squadron flight surgeon
referred the sampling problem to the Bien
Hoa Public Health Section. They determined
that the nearest Air Force facility capable of
testing for 2-4D and 2-4-5T was at McCellan
AFB. SSgt Larson, Military Public Health
section, contacted the 12th SOS on 22 March
1970, to discuss procedures for obtaining
water samples.
The local dam has contained all water and
residude [residue]. No flow of liquid down
the drainage system has occurred. However,
the damaged area is now full of water and
will not work during the monsoon season.
Limited quantities of the water have been
flushed over the dam for absortion
[absorption] in the sandy soil in the drainage
ditch.
Col Whiteside, MACV J3-09, was brief on the
problem on 21 March 1970. On his
recommendation, work orders were initiated
to CE to replace all plastic pipe with steel
pipe and to revet the storage tanks to
4
contain all herbicide in the event a tank herbicide residues in empty 55-gallon
failure. (10) herbicide drums (12-15).

Environmental effects of these leakages were Widespread distribution of empty herbicide

investigated and described in a drums containing residues of as much as 2 to
memorandum prepared by Pacific Technical 3 gallons of chemicals has taken place from
Analysts Subsidiary dated April 29, 1970. the two principal RANCH HAND loading sites
Spills at the Ranch Hand area have resulted at Bien Hoa and Da Nang. The transport of
in localized saturation of the artificial fill, and these empty drums throughout the cities and
the channel alluvium. The spill from the adjoining areas and the consequent leakage
ruptured pipe observed on 1 March 1970 and volatilization of the residual herbicide
saturated part of the fill, and a
zone between the fill and the
underlying clayey sand. Samples
taken from walls of an exploration
trench between the spill and the
channel were found to be
contaminated with Orange
herbicides components in
concentrations ranging from 0.2 to
106.1 micrograms per gram [or
parts per million (ppm)] of soil.
The distribution of these samples
indicates that the herbicide has
been confined to the artificial fill
and a narrow upper layer of the
clayey sand about 1 to 2 inches
thick. Concentrations up to about
10 micrograms per gram of soil
from samples of the clayey sand
and mottled clay 1 to 3 feet below
the artificial fill are believed to be
due to mechanical spreading of the
herbicide during the trenching
operation. It is very unlikely that
the herbicide has moved in any
direction more than a few inches
through the clayey sand beneath
the artificial fill during the period
Areas of herbicide damages in the vicinity of Da Nang Air Base (12)
since the spill occurred. (11)

Damages to Trees and Vegetable Crops has undoubtedly caused considerable

in the Vicinity of Da Nang Air Base
Herbicide damages to trees and vegetable
crops in the vicinity of Da Nang Air Base
occurred in September and October 1968.
Numerous investigations, which were
conducted to determine potential causes of
the damages, indicate that the damages to
the trees and vegetable crops in the vicinity
of Da Nang Air Base were caused by
damage to shade trees, fruit trees, and other
desirable vegetation in the area of dispersal
of these drums. Recognition of this problem
in Da Nang was given in a report dated 25
March 1969 Defoliant Damage in Da Nang
City from LTC Jim Corey, Deputy Chief,
CORDS/NLD/I CTZ to R.M. Urguhart, Chief,
CORDS/NLD/I CTZ, from files of Chemical
Operations Division, MACV J3-09. As cited in
this report and observed by the team
members in the Da Nang area, empty

5
defoliant barrels are widely and abundantly
scattered throughout the city and environs.
Drums are used as containers for gasoline,
diesel fuel and water without complete
removal of residual chemical. The
widespread use of herbicide-contaminated
gasoline in motorcycles and other vehicles
has undoubtedly contributed substantially to
the herbicide damage caused by volatilization
from promiscuous storage of empty drums.
The magnitude of the damage problem in the
city of Da Nang has led to restrictive
measures in the distribution of the drums. A
procedure for burial or safe disposal of the
contaminated empty drums is needed to
prevent continuation of this problem. (15)
The damages caused by residual herbicides
in empty herbicide drums were not limited in
the vicinity of Da Nang Air Base. An
investigation in September 1969 revealed
similar damages at the Vietnamese Naval
Compound in Da Nang. While surveying the
compound a total of eight ORANGE herbicide
barrels were found. Four of these were
located in the POL yard; two of them had a
strong odor of herbicide. The remaining four
barrels were located near a signal van and
were filled with gasoline. The gasoline was
used to operate a power generator. It was
explained to LCMDR James and Mr. Xuan that
the gasoline in the barrels may contain small
quantities of herbicide, and when burned in
the generator engine the exhaust produced
will contain vaporized herbicide capable of
effecting [affecting] vegetation in the
immediate area. It was also pointed out that
vapors from residual herbicide left in empty
barrels are a potential source of herbicide
damage to nearby vegetation. (16)
Emergency Dumps and Leakages
from Ranch Hand Aircrafts
Under emergency conditions such as engine
failure due to enemy fire or other
malfunctions, emergency dumping of the
entire 1000-gallon tank load on the UC-123,
i.e., the aircraft used for the Ranch Hand
operation, may be required for the safety of
the plane and crew. According to the
statistics prepared by the US Department of
the Army, 37 emergency dumps with a total
of 11,800 gallons of herbicides occurred
between 1965 and 1970; including 11 dumps
with 4,200 gallons of agent orange, 8 dumps
with 2,100 gallons of agent blue, 6 dumps
with 3,900 gallons of agent white, and 12
dumps with 1,600 gallons of unknown
herbicides (17).
Examination of Chemical Operations Division
files at MACV showed that five such
emergency dumps from RANCH HAND planes
had occurred in the period since 1 December
1968. One of these dumps had been made
at a location 10 kilometers offshore over the
South China Sea, south of Bac Lieu Province.
The remaining four were within a general
radius of 20 to 25 kilometers from Bien Hoa
and had been made from elevations of 2000
to 3500 feet. Inspection of one dump
location 20 kilometers up the Song Guai [?]
by Marvin Davis, USAID, showed damage to
broadleaf fruit trees, palms, and ornamentals
and considerable crops loss over an area 1
kilometer long and 1 kilometer wide. At
another location near My Quoi village in Bien
Hoa Province on which ORANGE was dumped
from 2500 feet altitude, the area of damage
was 1 kilometer wide and 2 to 3 kilometers
long as reported by Marvin Davis, USAID.
Citrus, mango, bananas, coconut and
betelnut were most severely damaged.
However, annual crops planted within six
weeks after the incident showed no herbicide
effect. Severe herbicide damage caused by
emergency dumps thus appears to be limited
in area affected although lesser damage
occurs over a wider area under conditions
conducive to drift of spray release at these
altitudes. Undoubtedly spray from the
emergency dumps that have occurred in the
immediate vicinity of Bien Hoa may account
for some of the damage to shade trees
observed east of that city. (16)
Leakages may occur during overflight of UC-
123 or helicopter spray aircrafts due to
leaking nozzles of the onboard spray
systems. Leaking nozzles are most likely to
occur in the return flight following the spray
mission due to clogging of the diaphragms
and gravity release of the small amount of
residual chemical in the booms after pump
6
pressure has been cut back. The extent of
herbicide damage by the UC-123 systems on
crops and other nontarget vegetation from
this cause is not known but it is believed to
be of a low order of magnitude, due to the
small quantities of herbicide involved and its
further dilution with the great altitude of
release. (16) Leakage from the Ranch Hand
aircrafts was initially thought to cause heavy
damages to vegetable crops of a
demonstration vegetable plot in Hoa Vang
District in September 1968. This
demonstration vegetable plot was located on
the normal take-off path of the Ranch Hand
aircrafts directly south of Da Nang Air Base.
But It is highly unlikely that leakage would
Herbicides drums transported at Saigon Newport (20)
occur on take off or at any time prior to
actual spraying in the target area. When
The Saigon Newport is located on the Saigon
leakage does occur it is due to faulty value
River, approximately three miles north of the
[valve] operation after the spray mission
Saigon Port and just south of the Saigon
Also, it is significant to note that most of
bridge on Saigon-Bien Hoa Highway. The
these [other damaged] areas lie outside of
port was constructed by Raymond
the flight pattern of the herbicide aircraft. In
International, Morrison-Knudson
addition, vegetables are being grown in East
International, Brown & Root and J. A. Jones
Da Nang (area shown in brown on map)
(RMK-BRJ) on an area of approximately one
where there has been no damage, yet Ranch
hundred acres of land that had once been
Hand aircraft habitually overfly this area.
part rice-paddy and a swampy, mangrove-
(12)
covered area, which at high tide was covered
by water. After completion in late 1966, the
Untold Incident at Saigon Newport
Saigon Newport was operated by the 71st
Transportation Battalion from Fort Story,
The herbicide incident at the Saigon Newport
Virginia and took over the handling of all US
was documented by personal photos taken
military cargos including herbicides that were
by members of the 71st Transportation
being handled at the Saigon Port at that time
Battalion and posted on a website managed
(18).
by Mr. Allan Furtado (a sergeant of the 154th
Company) at http://www.allanfurtado.com.

Saigon Newport in 1968 (19) Herbicides drums at Saigon Newport (21)

7
 Damage to equipment (22)
Herbicides drums at Saigon Newport (21)

Damage to the Saigon bridge (21)

Agent orange drums at Saigon Newport (21)

During the second phase of the Tet

Offensive, the Saigon Newport was attacked
by 122-mm rockets and mortars on May 12,
1968 (22). The attack caused significant
damages to facilities and equipment at the
Saigon Newport. The Saigon bridge was also
damaged.

Damage to administration building (22) Damage to herbicide drums at Saigon Newport in May 1968 (22)

8
 Among the damages were probably Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
thousands of herbicide drums of agent white (RCRA) corrective action sites, commonly
and orange, which were unintentionally known as Superfund sites. These levels
documented in a picture with a note: This were selected to protect human health and
photo is also on one of Al Krabbenhoefts the environment. One ppb [part per billion
pages. Thought it was worth a second look. or 1,000 ppt] (TEQs, or toxicity equivalents)
This civilian Newport worker is looking at the is to be generally used as a starting point for
site where James Lake was killed on the May setting cleanup levels for CERCLA removal
12, 1968 rocket attack. She is smiling sites and as a PRG for remedial sites for
because her picture was being taken. Look dioxin in surface soil involving a residential
in the background. Those are broken and exposure scenario. For commercial/industrial
damaged barrels. A close look shows exposure scenarios, a soil level within the
evidence of orange and white stripes. This range of 5 ppb to 20 ppb [5,000 to 20,000
picture was taken by SP4 Richard Allen ppt] (TEQs) should generally be used as a
Morawa, a member of the 368th Company of starting point for setting cleanup levels at
the 71st Transportation Battalion, who served CERCLA removal sites and as a PRG for
as a security guard at the Saigon Newport at remedial sites for dioxin in surface soil. (23)
that time (22).
The Agency for Toxic Substances and
STANDARDS USED Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the Department
FOR HOT SPOT DETERMINATION of Health and Human Services has also
adopted an interim policy guideline to assess
In Vietnam, standards for determination of potential effects of dioxin and dioxin-like
contaminated sites do not exist; therefore, compounds in residential soils near or on
HCL used the British Columbia (BC) hazardous waste sites. The interim policy
standards for agricultural and
guideline provides a clear and consistent
residential/park lands to determine the understanding of ATSDR's current
dioxin hot spots in Vietnam. For
approaches and judgments regarding
environmental protection purposes, the BC hazards posed by the presence of TCDD and
standards limit the dioxin concentration in its less toxic dioxin-like congeners, the
soils to 10 ppt Total TEQs for agricultural chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs) and
land and 1,000 ppt Total TEQs for residential chlorinated dibenzo furans (CDFs), in
and park land. For human health protection residential soils.
purposes, the dioxin concentration in soils
cannot exceed 350 ppt Total TEQs for all land Where estimated levels of exposure in soil
uses (8). fall in the range between 50 ppt and 1,000
ppt Total TEQs, a weight-of-evidence
In the US, the Environmental Protection approach is recommended to evaluate the
Agency (EPA) has established the preliminary exposure and potential effects on the public
remediation goals (PRGs) or starting points health. The 1,000 ppt Total TEQs is
for setting cleanup levels for dioxin in soil at considered by ATSDR as a concentration of
Comprehensive Environmental Response, chemicals at which consideration of action to
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and interdict/prevent exposure occurs, such as
surveillance, research,
health studies,
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency has established community education,
the preliminary remediation goals or starting points for setting physician education,
cleanup levels for dioxin in soil to protect human health and the environment or exposure
at Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act investigations.
(CERCLA) corrective action sites, commonly known as Superfund sites. Alternatively, based
One ppb (1,000 ppt) TEQs is generally used as a starting point for setting on the evaluation by
cleanup levels for CERCLA removal sites and as a PRG for remedial sites the health assessor,
for dioxin in surface soil involving a residential exposure scenario. none of these actions
For commercial/industrial exposure scenarios, a soil level within
the range of 5 ppb to 20 ppb (5,000 to 20,000 ppt) TEQs
should generally be used as a starting point for setting cleanup levels
at CERCLA removal sites and as a PRG for remedial sites 9
for dioxin in surface soil.
may be necessary. (24)
Health assessors must ask the following
questions:
How extensive is the contamination?
Is the contamination isolated or
widespread?
Is the contamination in surface soils
or areas easily accessible to children
or adults? Is it in areas with no
vegetation or in any other areas?
At this site, how often (daily, weekly,
monthly) and for what length of time
(months, years, lifetimes) would
exposures be likely to occur?
Where exposures to concentrations in
residential soils exceeding 1,000 ppt Total
TEQs are significant, the site is considered by
ATSDR as a public health hazard and site-
specific public health
recommendations/actions to prevent or
interdict exposures should be considered.
PUBLISHED DIOXIN CONCENTRATIONS
IN SOIL AT THE HOT SPOTS
A Shau Special Forces Base
Locations of military bases in the A Shau Valley (26)
The A Shau (currently A So) Special Forces dioxin (92.2 pg/g and 901.2 pg/g TEQ); the
Base is one of the three special forces bases 2,3,7,8-T4CDD congener made up 96% and
established in the A Shau (currently A Luoi) 99.6% of the total TEQ for these samples,
Valley. The A Shau Valley, 35 miles of rich,
fertile tropical land, runs along the extreme
western frontier of Thua Thien Province. You
feel the mystique of the valley when you first
see it, either from the air or from the ground.
There is little recorded history of the A
Shau. The valley became a nightmare for
those American and Vietnamese troops who,
as early as 1962, established bases thereat
A Luoi in the north central portion of the
valley, Ta Bat in the middle and A Shau to
the south. In addition to the three camps,
with their tiny airstrips, there were
approximately 30,000 inhabitants in the A
Shau, Katu and Pakoh Montagnard
tribesmen. The three Special Forces-CIDG
camps, one by one, were forced to close as
the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese applied
such pressure that it was impossible to
continue operations. The problems of
resupply, the weather and the enemy were
the reasons for moving out of, first, A Luoi,
then Ta Bat and, finally, in March 1966, A
Shau. Then, for two years, the valley
belonged to the enemy. It was not until 1968
that American and allied forces re-entered
the A Shau, by then an enemy haven
[heaven]. (25)
In 1996, following consultations with
various Vietnamese government
departments, Peoples Committees,
etc. prior to field collection
activities, HCL conducted its first
field sampling expedition in the A
Shau Valley. Data from the 1996
program revealed that the
commune of A So situated in the
southern sector of Aluoi [A Luoi
Valley], contained soils and fish
tissues with dioxin concentrations
(soils, 33.3 pg/g and 112.6 pg/g
TEQ; fish tissues, 2.6 pg/g and
53.7 pg/g TEQ). Data from 1996
formed the basis for a more
focused expedition in 1997 in A So
and a small former U.S. Special
Forces airbase in the area As in
the 1996 expedition, former U.S.
airbase soils contained the highest levels of
10
respectively. These data indicate that the
origin of 2,3,7,8-T4CDD is related to Agent
Orange, given this congener was the
principle [principal] contaminant in Agent
Orange accompanying the 2,4,5-T [2,4,5-
trichlorophenoxyacetic acid] herbicide portion
of the Agent Orange mixture. (2)
A Luoi Airstrip in 1969 (Photo: Raz Reed) (27)
Ta Bat Airstrip in 1969 (Photo: Larry Wagoner) (28)
A Shau Special Forces Base and Airstrip in 1969
(Photo: Larry Wagoner) (28)
In 1999, HCL conducted another field
sampling covering almost entirely the A Shau
Valley with special attention on the A Shau
Special Forces Base. Generally, there is a
low level presence of TCDD throughout the
Aluoi Valley, apart from those at the former
A So base. Centres of concentrated military
activity (i.e., the Special Forces bases) had
the highest TCDD concentrations As record
during previous sampling expeditions, those
soil samples originating from the US Special
Forces base at A So had the highest TCDD
concentrations (220 pg/g - 360 pg/g; Table
2.3) The northern quadrants of the A So
base had the highest TCDD levels. Levels at
A So decreased towards the southern
quadrants of the base. The 1999 TCDD
values were lower than the 1997 level
determined at the A So base (895.85 pg/g,
Figure 2.6), suggesting a high degree of
variability throughout the site The variable
TCDD concentrations in soils near the A So
base (1996, 1997 and 1999), indicates that
sectors of the base are highly contaminated
and, probably in some areas, in excess of
levels reported herein. (29) The soil
concentrations, however, ranged from 26 to
46 ppt Total TEQs in the central portion and
from 4.9 to 16 ppt Total TEQs in the
southern portion of the base. The other two
special forces bases in the A Shau Valley
were also sampled by HCL, but the soil
concentrations were significantly lower.
They ranged from 5.5 to 37 ppt Total TEQs
at the Ta Bat Special Forces Base and from
5.7 to 20 ppt Total TEQs at the A Luoi
Special Forces Base (29).
Da Nang Air Base
Although Da Nang Air Base has been
identified by HCL and 10-80 Committee as
one of the dioxin hot spots in Vietnam and
was selected for additional research by MOU
and Ford Foundation, data and information
on dioxin contamination are very limited. No
herbicide leakages or spills were reported,
except for highly publicized damages in
1968.
In 2003, during an investigation as part of
the National Dioxin Research Plan to better
understand the consequences of the
11
chemicals used by U.S Army during Vietnam
War (Ranch hand Operation from 1961-
1971) (NDRP), two soil samples were
collected and analyzed for polychlorinated
dibenzo dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated
dibenzo furans (PCDFs). Due to the security
formalities we could not done the sampling
inside the airport, so we have selected the
sampling sites outside the airport near the
plane runway, where the waste from the
planes were throw-out after the flights during
the war time [?]. (30)
soil concentrations of 21 soil samples
collected in the vicinity of Da Nang Air Base
in March 2005 ranged from less than 1 to
269 ppt Total TEQs with a maximum TCDD
concentration of 227 ppt (6). According to
the 33 Committee, Da Nang Air Base is the
hottest hot spot containing 85,000 cubic
meters of contaminated soil with an average
soil concentration of 10,000 ppt Total TEQs
(31).
Ma Da Forest

Ma Da Forest is the
second site selected for
additional research by
MOU. MaDa before
1975 was called Base D
it was a [North]
Vietnamese military base
during the US-Vietnam
war. This area is
seriously affected by the
chemical toxics and lethal
weapons. In period
1964-1969, the
defoliants ware [were]
sprayed on the Base D to
destroy the local forest
(Trung, T.V. 1982). The
Locations of soil sampling in the vicinity of Da Nang Air Base in 2003 (30) forest along the road
322, from DongNai river
The soil concentrations were 4.5 ppt Total bank to MaDa Stream (35 km) was mostly
TEQs at the site near the airport and 4.1 ppt destroyed by the repeated sprays. The
Total TEQs at the other site. It is affected area is about 3,000 ha. In 1975
reasonable because as we told above, site (after VN independence), the MaDa
DN1 is next to the airport and was the place Afforestation Yards (MAYs) has been
for the rubbish from the airport in the pass established to exploit the woods for
[past] time However with regard to the economic purposes. Once again the forest is
data in table 5.4, the i-TEQ of site DN2 is seriously injured. In 1982, after a long time
contributed mainly by OCDD [octa- of exploitation, the forest source was almost
chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin] and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8- exhausted. The purpose of MAYs had been
HpCDD the compounds considered as low changed from the exploitation into the forest
toxic (with TEFs of 0.01 and 0.001, recovery. The afforesting activities focused
respectively). These compounds come on the economy-valuable vegetation types
rather from sources such [as] burning ash such [as] Dipterocarpaceae, Hopea Odorata,
and so all the used defoliants [?]. (30) It is etc to recover the forest source. The
noted that the TCDD concentration in soil at afforesting techniques were applicated to
the DN2 site was 0.2 ppt Total TEQs. increase the wood production of the target
vegetation. (30)
The soil concentrations were also reported in
other papers and news; however, details In 1997, HCL and 10-80 Committee
were not provided. According to HCL, the conducted an investigation in the vicinity of a

12
former military airstrip at Rang Rang. The the construction activities inside this area are
soil concentrations ranged from 2.37 to very intensive with an effort to change it to a
20.33 ppt Total TEQs, and the sediment residential zone (for soldier families). (30)
concentrations ranged from 2.64 to 7.93 ppt But the locations of the samples, as shown
Total TEQs (29). on the Sampling Map of Bienhoa Airforce
Base and Bienhung Lake Dongnai
During the 2003 investigation, we have Province, (green dots) are not consistent
taken 16 samples (10 from Rang Rang with the provided coordinates (yellow dots).
Airport, 3 in the MaDa stream, and 3 in
natural surrounding forest). Due to time The soil concentrations of eight samples
limit, we have analyzed only 6 samples collected at the northern sampling site
(three of them were validated by Carso Lab ranged from 4.5 to 134.7 ppt Total TEQs.
and one of them was analyzed in Carso Complete analytical results indicate that
Lab). (30) The soil concentrations at the TCDD was not detected in the 4.5-ppt
Rang Rang airstrip ranged from 1.9 to 6.7 sample and that OCDD was detected at
ppt Total TEQs. The soil concentration in the elevated levels, ranging from 384.3 to
natural forest area was 1.3 ppt Total TEQs. 44,972.8 ppt. 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD and
The sediment concentration in the Ma Da OCDF (octachlorodibenzofurans) were also
stream was 2.7 ppt Total TEQs. present but at lower levels. The soil
concentrations of two samples collected at
Bien Hoa Air Base the southern sampling site were 43.7 and
148.8 ppt Total TEQs.
In 1999, four soil
samples were
collected from
Bien Hoa Air Base,
a former Agent
Orange storage
facility (32). The
soil concentrations
of these samples
were reported at
0.04; 1,063;
610,874; and
1,180,737 ppt
Total TEQs. These
soil samples were
reported to be
collected by late
Sample locations at Bien Hoa Air Base
Professor Dai C. Le
(33), but the exact The soil concentrations were also reported in
locations of the samples are not known (34). other papers and news; however, details
were not provided. According to HCL, the
In 2004, Bien Hoa Air Base was re-sampled soil concentrations of 24 soil and sediment
as part of the NDRP, but until now the samples collected in the vicinity of Bien Hoa
BienHoa Air Force Base is still belongs to the Air Base in March 2005 ranged from 1.19 to
Vietnamese Army, so sampling there is very 833 ppt Total TEQs with a maximum TCDD
difficult (in fact the official sampling is concentration of 797 ppt (6). According to
forbidden). With a help of one person of the 33 Committee, Bien Hoa Air Base is the
Environmental Department of DongNai second hottest hot spot containing 90,000
Province, we have entered and sampled cubic meters of contaminated soil with an
(June/2004) in the area near the radar average soil concentration of 6,000 ppt Total
station of the airport. At the present time, TEQs (31).

13
FROM THEORY TO REALITY:
A HUGE GAP
The Hatfield hot spot theory does not
appear to be supported by available data and
information. Important factors affecting the
theory validity are discussed below.
Presumed Source of TCDD
HCL presumed that TCDD detected at the hot
spots is the TCDD contained in the agent
orange herbicide used during the Vietnam
war. As in the 1996 expedition, former U.S.
airbase soils contained the highest levels of
dioxin (92.2 pg/g and 901.2 pg/g TEQ); the
2,3,7,8-T4CDD congener made up 96% and
99.6% of the total TEQ for these samples,
respectively. These data indicate that the
origin of 2,3,7,8-T4CDD is related to Agent
Orange, given this congener was the
principle [principal] contaminant in Agent
Orange accompanying the 2,4,5-T herbicide
portion of the Agent Orange mixture. (2)
But there is evidence indicating that TCDD
may come from other sources.
It is true that the TCDD made up 96% and
99.6% of Total TEQs of the samples, but
other PCDDs/PCDFs congeners were also
present at elevated levels, especially OCDD.
The OCDD concentration in these two soil
samples was 697.05 and 563.84 ppt,
respectively. These congeners must come
from other sources likely containing TCDD.
According to the Institute of Medicine, the
primary environmental source of dioxins and
furans is combustion (Zook and Rappe,
1994, as cited in ATSDR, 1998). Combustion
processes include waste incineration (e.g.,
municipal solid waste, sewage sludge,
medical waste, and hazardous waste),
burning of various fuels (e.g., coal, wood,
and petroleum products), other high-
temperature sources (e.g., cement kilns),
and poor or uncontrolled combustion sources
(e.g., forest fires, volcanic eruptions, building
fires, and residential wood burning) (Clement
et al., 1985; EPA, 2000; Thoma, 1988; Zook
and Rappe, 1994, as cited in ATSDR, 1998).
(35) In the vicinity of the A Shau Special
Forces Base, burning of petroleum products,
forest fires, camp building fires, and
residential wood burning may have been the
TCDD sources. Burning of petroleum
products were reported during the war. In
order to clear landing zones of brush and
small shrubs, the Division Chemical Section
is presently using UH-1 aircraft to drop three
55 gallons drums of thickened fuel. The
drums are carried externally in salvaged
cargo nets and straps. The entire load is
dropped at zero speed and from an altitude
of 250 feet above the ground and is ignited
by smoke grenade dropped from the aircraft.
An area approximately 25 meters in diameter
is burned off. (36)
Another potential source of TCDD in the
vicinity of the A Shau Special Forces Base is
pentachlorophenol (PCP), which was reported
to use as an anti-fungal agent for wood
preservation at the base during the war time
(37). PCP may also be contained in
agrochemicals that are being used today.
This interpretation appears to be supported
by the highest OCDD concentration of 1,700
ppt in a soil samples collected at a farming
field in Hong Van in 1996. Elevated levels of
OCDD were confirmed during the 1999
investigation. Highest octa-dioxins (O8CDD
[OCDD]) concentrations were from areas of
the Aluoi Valley where human activity was
more pronounced and the burning of refuse
common (e.g., Hong Thuong commune,
2,200 pg/g total O8CDD; Bo Dot market,
1,100 pg/g total O8CDD; Son Thuy
commune, 1,800 pg/g and 1,100 pg/g total
O8CDD; Table 2.3). (29)
Arbitrary Soil Standards
The most important and highly questionable
basis for the Hatfield hot spot theory is
probably the standard used to determine the
hot spots. HCL appears to make every
effort to justify its theory. Initially, HCL used
the BC standards of 350 ppt Total TEQs
rather than the EPA PRGs/ATSDR action level
of 1,000 ppt Total TEQs to theorize the A
Shau Special Forces Base, probably because
the highest soil concentration at this base
(901.2 ppt TEQs) does not exceed 1,000 ppt
TEQs.
14
HCL provided explanation for selecting a
more stringent standard. However, western
thresholds for PCDD and PCDF levels may
not be conservative enough to protect
human health in rural Viet Nam. The socio-
economic circumstances in rural communes,
dirt floors in many homes, children and many
adults without footwear, their close
association with the land for food production,
and general sanitation are such that higher
levels of exposure to contaminants occur. As
a consequence, guidelines and standards
should be more stringent in this
environment. (3) But the BC standards and
EPA PRGs/ATSDR action level are based on
direct ingestion of contaminated soil;
therefore, the explanation does not appear to
be appropriate.
Recently, HCL has lowered its standard from
350 ppt Total TEQs to 190 ppt TCDD. The
rationale for selecting this new standard has
not been provided, but it is the standard
HCL needed in order to include the Da Nang,
Soil data used by HCL to theorize the dioxin hot spots at the military airbases (6)
Phu Cat, and Tan Son Nhut Air Bases to its
dioxin hot spot list, simply because the
soils/sediments concentrations at these
bases (269, 201, and 341 ppt Total TEQs,
respectively (6)) do not exceed the BC
standard of 350 ppt Total TEQs.
Nevertheless, the use of the BC standards for
agricultural and residential/park lands to
categorize former US military installations as
the dioxin hot spots does not appear to be
technically justified, especially the major
bases such as the Bien Hoa, Da Nang, Phu When on-site soil data were not available,
Cat, and Tan Son Nhut Air Bases. The EPA HCL used soil data recorded at sampling
PRGs for commercial/industrial areas (from
5,000 to 20,000 ppt Total TEQs) appear to
be more appropriate.
Questionable Soil Data
Soil data used by HCL to support its hot spot
theory do not appear to be reliable,
consistent, and adequate. In fact, the
Hatfield hot spot theory was developed
based on a single field data point at the A
Shau Special Forces Base (i.e., 901.2 ppt
Total TEQs in 1997). This data point,
however, could not be reasonably verified
during the 1999 investigation, which was
carefully designed to examine further the
extent of the Agent Orange-related problems
in the Aluoi Valley. (29) The most serious
problem with soil data collected by HCL is
likely the mysterious absence of their exact
sampling locations. In fact, the exact
locations of the soil samples collected during
the HCL investigations in 1996, 1997, and
1999 have never been reported (2, 29).
Soil data used by HCL to determine other
hot spots do not appear to be better.
Ranch Hand bases at Bien Hoa and Da Nang
are examples of major hot spots. A TCDD
concentration in soil from Bien Hoa was
reported up to 1.2 million parts per trillion
(ppt) (Schecter et al., 2001). Anecdotal
information from Vietnamese scientists
suggests soil dioxin levels from Da Nang are
in the several hundred thousand ppt range.
(5)
15
sites distributed near each installation [!?] confirmed during the follow-up investigation
to theorize the dioxin hot spots. The former in 1999, HCL has maintained its theory
US airbases at Da Nang, Phu Cat, and Bien because the base may still be hot even if
Hoa may be categorized as significant dioxin primary sites of contamination were not
hot spots on the basis of the TCDD identified or sampled [!] and because HCL
concentrations recorded in areas has re-defined the soil standard to 190 ppt
downstream of suspected Ranch Hand sites. TCDD (6).
Suspected primary sites were not sampled
directly in this study due to restricted access
by Vietnamese authorities. However, the
elevated TCDD values (Table 1) suggest
significant involvement of Agent Orange
herbicide in the overall toxicity of these
soil/sediment samples, given that TCDD was
the characteristic dioxin congener in Agent
Orange. (6)

Soil data provided in Table 1 are

questionable because they do not appear to
be consistent with that from other sources. Excessive use of agrochemicals (39)
For example, the soil concentration for Da
Nang Air Base (<1-269 ppt Total TEQs) is Available data and information, however, do
not consistent with the 2003 sampling results not appear to support the Hatfield hot spot
(4.1 and 4.5 ppt Total TEQs), with anecdotal theory. HCL assumes that TCDD in Vietnam
information from Vietnamese scientists has solely come from the herbicides (i.e.,
(several hundred thousand ppt), and with the agent orange) used during the Vietnam war;
33 Committees value (10,000 ppt Total but recent data and information indicate that
TEQs). Details of the soil data in Table 1, TCDD may come from agrochemicals
including sampling locations, were not containing PCP or from combustion,
provided even if these locations are not especially municipal waste incineration. In
located within the military bases. fact, the dioxins concentrations in the bottom
ash samples collected in 2003 from a medical
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND waste incinerator in Ho Chi Minh City and
RECOMMENDATIONS from municipal waste incinerators at Binh
Hung Hoa in Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Hoa in
In 1998, HCL introduced the so-called Vung Tau City ranged from 184 ppt Total
Hatfield hot spot theory following the TEQs (with 6 ppt TCDD) to 12,328 ppt Total
detection of a relatively high dioxin TEQs (with 53 ppt TCDD) (30).
concentration (901.2 ppt Total TEQs) in a soil
sample collected in the vicinity of the former
A Shau Special Forces Base in 1997. The
Hatfield hot spot theory, which serves as a
model for [TCDD] contamination throughout
southern Viet Nam, (6) categorizes all
former US military installations (airbases, fire
support bases, naval bases, etc.) in South
Vietnam as dioxin hot spots, especially at
major US airbases such as Tan Son Nhut,
Bien Hoa, and Da Nang, where large
quantities of herbicides were transported,
stored, and/or handled. Although the level
of dioxin contamination in the vicinity of the
Uncontrolled combustion at a factory in Cu Chi (40)
A Shau Special Forces Base was not

16
 HCL uses a self-defined soil standard of 190 exposure scenarios and recommend
ppt TCDD for its theory. This standard technically feasible interventions. The
appears to be cool in comparison with the second study, with a budget of $342,800, is
EPA PRGs/ATSDR action level of 1,000 ppt to assess the current public health threats
Total TEQs for residential areas and cold in through the soil and food chain of a dioxin
comparison with the EPA PRGs/ATSDR action 'hotspot' at the Danang airport and prepare
level of 5,000-20,000 ppt Total TEQs for recommendations for immediate
commercial/industrial areas. Even if soil interventions. (38) The hot spot for these
data used by HCL is assumed to be reliable, two studies, however, may not exist because
none of the suspected airbases investigated available data and information indicate that
by HCL could be considered as a dioxin hot the dioxin concentrations in soil in the Da
spot if the EPA PRGs/ATSDR action level of Nang Air Base area are either unknown (not
1,000 ppt Total TEQs is used as the soil sampled within the base) or very low (less
standard. than 5 ppt Total TEQs in surrounding areas
(30)). For that reason, a work plan should
There is one site that might support the be prepared and released for public review
Hatfield hot spot theory: the Saigon (national and international) to verify and
Newport, where thousands of 55-gallon characterize this hot spot. Results from
herbicide drums could be damaged during this site characterization should then be used
the second phase of the Tet Offensive in to determine if these two studies are
1968. As a result, tens ofthousands of necessary.
gallons of agent orange could be spilled.
Although this herbicide spill has not been Based on data and information available to
investigated, the Saigon Newport does not date, it can be concluded that the dioxin
appear to make the HCL hot spot list because (TCDD) hot spots or the dioxin problems,
no damages or alleged effects have been as observed by HCL during its more than
claimed, even if it is located very close to the twelve years of research, may not exist in
most populated area. Vietnam today. But Vietnam has probably
faced with problems caused by PCDDs/PCDFs
originating from
current sources other
Based on data and information available to date, it can be concluded that
the dioxin (TCDD) hot spots or the dioxin problems, as theorized by than agent orange,
Hatfield Consultants Ltd., may not exist in Vietnam today. But Vietnam has i.e., the dioxins
probably faced with problems caused by PCDDs/PCDFs originating from problems. These
current sources other than agent orange, i.e., the dioxins problems. dioxins problems
These dioxins problems appear to be more serious and getting worse. In fact, appear to be more
in a bed sediment sample collected in Bien Hoa in 2004, TCDD was not serious and getting
detected but PCDDs/PCDFs were found at 121.5 ppt Total TEQs. worse. In fact, in a
In other sample, TCDD was detected at 27.9 ppt while its PCDDs/PCDFs bed sediment sample
concentration reached 548.5 ppt Total TEQs. Scientifically speaking, collected in the Bien
the dioxins problems should deserve more attention and consideration, Hung Lake in 2004
nationally and internationally, than the dioxin problems in Vietnam today. (SSM9), TCDD was
not detected but
PCDDs/PCDFs were
found at 121.5 ppt Total TEQs. In other
Recently, HCL was retained by the 33 sample (SSM8), TCDD was detected at 27.9
Committee to conduct two studies for a hot ppt while its PCDDs/PCDFs concentration
spot at the Danang airport. The studies are reached 548.5 ppt Total TEQs (30).
funded by Ford Foundation. The objective of Scientifically speaking, the dioxins
the first study, with a budget of $120,000, is problems should deserve more attention and
to study the flow characteristics of a dioxin consideration, nationally and internationally,
'hotspot' at the Danang airport, assess than the dioxin problems in Vietnam today.

17
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ng Newpaper. H Ni, Vit Nam. (in Vietnamese)
(34) Mai, Truyet T. May 2004. Letters to the Editor Food as a Source of Dioxin
Exposure in the Residents of Bien Hoa City, Vietnam Schecter et al. Journal of
Occupational and environmental Medicine. Volume 46, Number 5.
(35) Institute of Medicine. 2003. Dioxins and Dioxin-like Compounds in the Food Supply:
Strategies to Decrease Exposure. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C.
(36) Wickham, Kenneth G.. 9 December 1969. Operational Report Lessons Learned,
Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division, Period Ending 31 July 1969 (U). Department
of the Army. Washington, D.C.
(37) Schecter, A.J., J.J. Ryan, M. Gross, N.C.A. Weerasinghe, and J.D. Constable. 1986.
Chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans in human tissues from Viet Nam, 1983-84..
Chlorinated Dioxins and Dibenzofurans in Perspective. C. Rappe, G. Choudhary, and
L.H. Keith [editors]. Lewis Publishers. Ann Arbor, Michigan.
(38) http://www.fordfound.org/grants_db/view_grant_detail.cfm?grant_id=39336
(39) , Anh H. October 5, 2006. Cn thn vi thuc tr su. Si Gn Gii Phng
Newpaper. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (in Vietnamese)
(40) Quang t. November 31, 2006. Xung quanh khu cng nghip Tn Quy - t,
nc v khng kh u nhim. Si Gn Gii Phng Newpaper. Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam. (in Vietnamese)

19
Tri Lc lng c bit A Shau: Ni cho i ca thuyt im nng dioxin
(nh: Larry Wagoner - 1969)

IM NNG DIOXIN VIT NAM:

T L THUYT N THC T
Nguyn Minh Quang, P.E.
Thng 1 nm 2007
PHN M U

Tip theo sau Hi ngh Khoa hc Hn hp y khng phi l ln u tin nhng im

Vit-M v nh hng ca Cht da
cam/dioxin ln Sc khe v Mi trng, c
t chc ti H Ni, Vit Nam t ngy 3 n 6
thng 3 nm 2002, i din ca hai chnh
ph t n tha thun v nhng cng
tc nghin cu trong tng lai, c ghi
trong bin bn ghi nh (memorandum of
understanding (MOU)) k kt ngy 10 thng
3 nm 2002. Nhng cng tc ny bao gm
vic nghin cu trc tip nh hng ca vic
tip xc vi dioxin i vi sc khe con ngi
v nh hng ca cht da cam/dioxin i vi
mi trng v h sinh thi. Vic nghin cu
s u tin nhm vo dn s ang tip xc
nhiu vi dioxin, chng hn nh sinh sng
gn cc im nng, v nhm vo vic xc
nh, nh tnh (characterization), v iu tr
(remediation) cc im nng.
nng dioxin Vit Nam c cp n.
Chng c cng b vo nm 1998 sau
cc nghin cu hn hp gia Hatfield
Consultants Ltd. West Vancouver, Canada
(HCL) v y ban quc gia iu tra v hu
qu cht c ha hc dng trong chin tranh
Vit Nam (y ban 10-80) xc nh mc
dioxin trong mi trng Vit Nam (2).
Chng l tiu im ca ci gi l thuyt
im nng Hatfield v l ch ca nhiu
phc trnh v bi vit do HCL bin son (3-
6). C l v l do , HCL c y ban
quc gia khc phc hu qu cht c ha hc
do M s dng trong chin tranh Vit Nam
(y ban 33) ca chnh ph Vit Nam mn
nghin cu ... nhm ngn chn dioxin lan
rng chung quanh phi trng Nng, v
nh gi kh nng bo v sc khe ca
ngi dn sinh sng trong vng ph cn.
(7) Cc nghin cu ny do Ford
Foundation ti tr.

Nhng im nng dioxin c

tht s hin hu Vit Nam hin
nay hay khng? Nu c, chng
nng n mc no? Bi vit
ny nhm mc ch tr li hai
cu hi .

THUYT IM NNG
HATFIELD

Theo HCL, tt c cc cn c qun

s ca Hoa K c xem nh l
(theorized) nhng im nng
i din hai chnh ph ti Hi ngh H Ni nm 2002
dioxin Vit Nam. Thuyt ny
dng nh c hnh thnh sau khi 2,3,7,8-
Theo bin bn ghi nh, im nng l nhng trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin, TCDD, hoc
ni c mc dioxin trong t cao. Mt T4CDD) c tm thy trong mt mu t ly
vi ni c xc nh, cn nhng ni khc tri Lc lng c bit A Shau nm 1997.
c xem nh l hin hu, nhng v tr ca Mu t c nng 901,2 phn c (parts per
chng cha c xc nh. Hai nghin cu trillion (ppt)) Tng TEQs (Total Toxicity
c tha thun tin hnh bao gm vic Equivalents), vt qu 350 ppt Tng TEQs, l
nghin cu h sinh thi v phc hi rng suy tiu chun bo v sc khe con ngi cho
thoi, chng hn nh rng M , v vic t nng nghip, th c, v cng vin
nghin cu xc nh, nh tnh, v iu tr Canada (8). Mc d nng dioxin trong
nhng im nng, chng hn nh phi trng cc mu t ly cng v tr trong nm 1999
Nng (1). Hai a im ny do cc khoa khng vt qu 350 ppt Tng TEQs, HCL vn
hc gia Vit Nam ngh. duy tr thuyt im nng v ... cho d mt

1
cn c c xem l khng nhim nghim xuyn ca Chin dch Ranch Hand, m s ca
trng, cn c vn c th nng nu v tr chng trnh phun thuc khai quang ca
chnh xc ca cc khu vc Ranch Hand c Qun i M... Nhng im nng hin nay l
xc nh v phn tch. (6) t ni cht da cam b r r, c xt t bn
cha gn trn xe, k c vic phun thuc
Tng TEQs c dng nh gi nguy c chung quanh cc cn c, v.v., cho nn t
ca vic tip xc vi mt hn hp y c mc tip nhn dioxin nhiu hn so vi
(combination) bao gm cc hp cht h t vng b phun thuc t trn khng.
dioxin (dioxin-like compounds). N l tch s Nng TCDD cao nht c tm thy trong
ca nng ca tng hp cht h dioxin, Ci, cc mu t ly tri gia binh bn trong mt
vi h s c t tng ng vi dioxin, TEFi cn c c ca lc lng c bit M thung
(TCDD toxicity equivalency factor), cho hp lng A Li (Dwernychuk et al., 2002). Hai
cht . Tng TEQs l tng s ca mi TEQs cn c khc trong thung lng, c s dng
ca tng hp cht: trong mt thi gian ngn hn, cng c mc
n TCDD trong t cao hn nhng vng b
Tng TEQs = Ci xTEFi phun thuc t trn khng... Cc cn c
i =1 Ranch Hand Bin Ha v Nng l nhng
Thuyt im nng Hatfield c trnh by im nng quan trng in hnh. Nng
kh chi tit trong nhiu bi vit chuyn mn TCDD trong t Bin Ha c ghi nhn ln
ca HCL. Nhng a im c mc dioxin n 1,2 triu phn c (ppt) (Schecter et al.,
trong t cao c th gi l im nng cht 2001). Ti liu mt [anecdotal] t cc khoa
da cam/dioxin. Chng ti chn t, mt b hc gia Vit Nam cho thy mc dioxin
phn ca mi trng thung lng A Li, trong t Nng c th ln n vi trm
nh l mt yu t xc nh cc im ngn ppt. (5)
nng. Nu nhim t thung lng l tin
ca nhim thc phm v con ngi hin Cc cn c khng qun c ca M
nay, th t phi c dng nh l yu t Nng, Ph Ct, v Bin Ha c th c xem
chnh yu trong vic xc nh mt im nh l nhng im nng quan trng v nng
nng. (4) TCDD quan st c h lu ca cc a
im tnh nghi l khu vc Ranch Hand.
Cc im nng xc nh bi Hatfield ang Trong nghin cu ny, cc a im tnh
hin din, l t c mc TCDD rt cao nghi chnh yu cha c trc tip phn tch
v tip nhn nhiu TCDD hn trong thi gian v chnh quyn Vit Nam khng cho php.
chin tranh. iu quan trng l nhng im Tuy nhin, nhng tr s TCDD rt cao (Bng
nng Hatfield khng phi l vng rng rm 1), cho thy s quan trng ca cht da cam
bt ngn, mc tiu ca cc phi v thng trong ton th c t ca cc mu t hoc

Hatfield Consultants Ltd. cho rng hnh thc nhim TCDD quan st
trong thung lng A Li [nng trong t vt qu tiu chun 350 ppt
TEQs ca British Columbia (Canada)] l khun mu cho tnh trng
nhim khp min Nam Vit Nam, ni c v s bn cha TCDD
hin hu trong t cc cn c qun s c ca M.
Trong nghin cu ca chng ti, cc cn c qun s c xem l
cc im nng dioxin da trn mc dioxin ca mu t ly t
cc a im gn mi cn c. Nh trnh by, cc im
nhim chnh th cha c xc nh/phn tch; do , d mt cn c
c xem nh khng nhim nghim trng, cn c vn c th nng
nu v tr chnh xc ca khu vc Ranch Hand c xc nh v phn tch.
Mt cn c qun s c ca M Vit Nam khng c xp vo loi nng
khng c ngha l n khng b nhim; n ch c ngha l
nhim nghim trng cha c xc nh v thiu d kin (trong nghin
cu ny, nghim trng c nh ngha l 190 pg/g [ppt] TCDD).

2
bn, v TCDD pht xut t cht da cam... Cn c Khng qun Bin Ha l cn c ln
Mt cn c qun s c ca M Vit Nam nht trong s 5 cn c vn hnh ca Chin
khng c xp loi nng khng c ngha l dch Ranch Hand bao gm Cn c Khng
n khng b nhim; n ch c ngha l qun Tn Sn Nht (Si Gn), Nng, Nha
nhim nghim trng cha c xc nh v Trang, v Ph Ct (Qui Nhn). Hu ht cc
thiu d kin (trong nghin cu ny, nghim phi v khai quang Ranch Hand thc hin t
trng c nh ngha l 190 pg/g [phn thng 12/1966 n thng 07/1970 u xut
c hay ppt] TCDD). (6) pht t cn c ny (9).

TAI NN THUC KHAI QUANG Theo bin bn ghi nh ca Trung t Keith W.

TRONG THI CHIN West, T lnh Phi on c nhim (SOS)
12th ca Chin dch Ranch Hand Cn c
Nhng tai nn lin quan n vic s dng Khng qun Bin Ha, cc v r r thuc khai
thuc khai quang trong cuc chin Vit Nam; quang xy ra t ng ng ngm ca h
chng hn nh r r t bn cha, x khn thng tn tr v phn phi mi va hon tt
cp hoc r r t my bay Ranch Hand, v vo ngy 14 thng 1 nm 1970. H thng
thit hi v cy n tri v hoa mu; c c xy dng c th bm 3 loi thuc
bo co trong nhiu ti liu mt. Nhng ti khai quang (trng, xanh, v da cam) t cc
liu ny; gm c bin bn ghi nh, ghi ch, bn cha vo cc my bay Ranch Hand u
v phc trnh bo co kt qu iu tra tai khu vc tip liu v bo tr. ng ng
nn; va c gii mt v cng b qua ngm bng plastic c th chu mt p sut
Trung tm Su tm Ti liu ca Qun v Hoa ln n 300 PSI [pounds per square inch].
K (Center for Unit Records Research of the p sut ti a dng bm thuc khai quang
US Armed Services (USAS/CURR)) ln my bay vo khong 45 n 65 PSI. V
Springfield, Virginia. Mt s tai nn lin tt c ng ng u nm di mt t, r r
quan n thuc khai quang ng ch c ch c pht hin khi p sut trong ng
m t tm tt di y. ng b gim bt thng. S lng ca mi
bn cha c theo di hng ngy bng s
R r thuc khai quang lng cn trong bn tr s lng bm ln
Cn c Khng qun Bin Ha my bay. Dng nh y l phng php
duy nht xc nh xem c r r hay khng
[?]. (10)

Ngy 15 thng 1
nm 1970, gn
500 gallons cht
mu trng r r t
mi ni ch T ca
ng ng ngm.
Khng c thuc
khai quang chy
trn trn mt t;
tt c s lng r
r thm vo t
chung quanh ch
b b. (10) Ngy
5 thng 2 nm
1970, mt mi ni
ch L ca ng
ng ngm b st
V tr ca khu vc Ranch Hand Cn c Khng qun Bin Ha khin khong
1.000 gallons cht
da cam b r r, nhng chi tit khng c

3
bo co. Trong tun l u tin ca thng 2
nm 1970, mt mi ni khc ca ng ng
ngm li b st. Gn 500 gallons cht da
cam b tht thot, nhng chi tit khng c
bo co.
Tai nn nghim trng nht c l xy ra ngy
28 thng 2 nm 1970 vi khong 7.500
gallons cht da cam r r t mt l thng c
ng knh inch trn ng ng ngm. trong tng lai. Ngy 7 thng 3, Bc s ca
Vo khong 7:30 sng ngy 1 thng 3 nm
1970, Thiu t Iorcross, 12SOS c Trung
s Webb ca Ban Thuc khai quang thng
bo vic r r trong h thng bm thuc khai
quang. Cng binh c thng bo o
ng ng sau khi ng tt c cc kha tr trng hp phi bm thuc ln my bay.
(valves) ca h thng. Mt l thng c
ng knh inch c tm thy trn mt sut ca bm v lu lng ca thuc khai
on ng thng gia khu S-13 v S-12
(tham kho s tng th ca BHAB, RVN
[Cn c Khng qun Bin Ha, Vit Nam
Cng Ha] trong h s ca Ch huy trng
Bo tr, 3TFW [Vng III Chin Thut]). Vo
lc ny, s quan trc ca Phi on c nhim
12th c thng bo v s lng thuc khai
quang trong bn cha cht da cam c
kim tra. Sau khi khu tr s lng s dng
trong m qua, 3 feet (khong 7.500
gallons) thuc khai quang c xc nhn l
tht thot.
Mt bn cha thuc khai quang
Cn c Khng qun Bin Ha (9)
Vic r r c sa cha bng cch gn mi
ni Dresser chung quanh ni ng ng b
h hi. Mt b t c p ngay lp tc
chn nc chy trn trn mt t (c lng
khong 100 gallons).
Sau mt p lm bng t ly ti ch
c xy ngay pha di ng ng ngm
chn nc chy trn nu ng ng b b
Phi on c lin lc xc nh phng
php ly mu nc v t ni b nhim
thuc khai quang. Nhng bin php kim
sot ti ch c thay i ng tt c
cc kha ca h thng vo ban m, ngoi
V tt c nhng tn hiu ca h thng (p
quang vi) vn bnh thng, bin php ny
c xem l cn thit trnh nhng tai nn
tng t trong tng lai.
Khong 2 tun sau, i y Altum, MACV J3-
09, c bo co trong mt chuyn thm
ving ca ng. Tai nn r r, nhng bin
php khc phc, v nhu cu ly mu xc
nh nh hng ca ng ng b c tho
lun. Bc s ca Phi on ngh Qun Y
Bin Ha ph trch vn ly mu. H cho
bit, cn c khng qun gn nht c kh
nng th nghim 2-4D v 2-4-5T l Cn c
Khng qun McCellan. Trung s Larson bn
Qun Y lin lc vi Phi on c nhim
12th vo ngy 22 thng 3 nm 1970 tho
lun phng php ly mu nc.
p t ngn chn c tt c nc v
thuc khai quang cn st li. Cht lng
khng cn chy vo h thng thot nc
na. Tuy nhin, ni xy ra tai nn hin ang
ngp y nc nn p t s khng cn
hiu qu trong ma ma. Mt s lng nc
c x qua p v cho thm vo t
ct trong mng thot nc.
Tai nn c bo co ln i t Whiteside,
MACV J3-09, ngy 21 thng 3 nm 1970.
Theo ngh ca ng, Cng binh s thay th
tt c ng plastic bng ng st v be b
chung quanh cc bn cha ngn chn tt
c thuc khai quang trong trng hp cc
bn cha b b. (10)
4
nh hng i vi mi trng ca cc v r Vic phn phi rng ri cc thng khng
r ny c iu tra v m t trong mt tng cha thuc khai quang, vi khong t 2
bin bn ghi nh do Pacific Technical n 3 gallons thuc cn st li, rt ph bin
Analysts Subsidiary son ngy 29 thng 4 hai cn c Ranch Hand chnh yu Bin
nm 1970. Cc v r r lm mt vi ni Ha v Nng. Vic vn chuyn cc thng
ca nn t p (artificial fill) v t ct lng khng ny trong khp thnh ph v vng
mng thot nc b bo ha. V r r t ph cn, cng vi vic r r v bay hi
ng ng b ngy 1 thng 3 nm 1970 lm (volatilization) khng th trnh khi ca
bo ha mt phn ca nn t p, v mt thuc khai quang cn st li trong thng,
phn gia nn t t p v lp t ct pha chc chn, gy thit hi ng k cho cy
st bn di. Cc mu t ly vch che mt (shade trees), cy n tri, v hoa
mng kho st (exploration
trench), c o gia ni r r
v ng thot nc, b
nhim thuc khai quang da cam
vi nng thay i t 0,2 cho
n 106,1 phn triu (parts per
million (ppm)). S phn phi
cc mu ny cho thy thuc
khai quang b gii hn trong
nn t p v khong 1 n 2
inches phn trn cng ca lp
t ct pha st. Nng trong
t ln n 10 phn triu, c
tm thy trong cc mu ly t
lp t ct pha st hoc lp t
st c nhiu mu (mottled clay)
nm bn di nn t p t 1
n 3 feet, c l do s lan
truyn c hc (mechanical
spreading) trong khi o
mng kho st. Thuc khai
quang kh c th lan xa hn
mt vi inches trong lp t ct
pha st nm bn di nn t
p trong sut thi gian k t
khi xy ra v r r. (11)

Thit hi cy n tri v hoa

mu trong vng ph cn Cn Nhng ni b thit hi v thuc khai quang
c Khng qun Nng trong vng ph cn Cn c Khng qun Nng (12)

mu trong vng m cc thng khng ny

Nhng thit hi do thuc khai quang gy ra
c ph thi. Vn c ghi nhn trong
cho cy n tri v hoa mu trong vng ph
phc trnh Thit hi do thuc khai quang
cn Cn c Khng qun Nng xy ra
Nng ngy 25 thng 3 nm 1969 ca
trong thng 9 v 10 nm 1968. Kt qu
Trung t Jim Corey, Ch huy ph
nhiu cuc iu tra, c thc hin xc
CORDS/NLD/I CTZ, gi cho R.M. Urguhart,
nh nguyn nhn gy ra thit hi, cho thy
Ch huy trng CORDS/NLD/I CTZ, c lu
cy n tri v hoa mu trong vng ph cn
tr trong h s ca Ban Hnh qun Ha hc
Cn c Khng qun Nng b thit hi v s
(Chemical Operations Division), MACV J3-09.
thuc khai quang cn st li trong cc thng
Nh c trnh by trong phc trnh v c
55-gallon ng thuc khai quang (12-15).
cc thnh vin ca on quan st trong vng

5
 Nng, rt nhiu thng khng tng ng
thuc khai quang c tm thy khp ni
trong thnh ph v vng ph cn. Cc thng
ny c dng ng xng, du cn x khn cp vi tng cng 11.800 gallons
(diesel fuel) v nc d c mt s t thuc
khai quang vn cn st li trong thng. Vic
dng xng b nhim thuc khai quang
chy xe gn my v cc loi xe khc chc
chn l nguyn nhn chnh yu ca cc thit
hi do hin tng bay hi ca nhiu cht
khc nhau c cha trong cc thng khng.
Mc thit hi trong thnh ph Nng
a n nhng bin php gii hn vic phn
phi cc thng thuc khai quang. Mt trong
cc bin php cn thit ngn chn s thit
hi l chn hoc ph thi mt cch an ton
(safe disposal) cc thng khng b nhim
thuc khai quang. (15)
Thit hi do s thuc khai quang cn st li
trong thng tng ng thuc khai quang
khng ch gii hn trong vng ph cn Cn
c Khng qun Nng. Mt cuc iu tra
trong thng 9 nm 1969 cng cho thy
nhng thit hi tng t bn trong B T
lnh Hi qun Vit Nam Cng Ha
Nng. C tt c tm thng thuc khai quang
DA CAM c tm thy bn trong B T lnh.
Hai trong bn thng Bi xng du cn nng
nc mi thuc khai quang. Bn thng cn li
gn xe bo hiu th cha y xng. Xng
trong cc thng ny dng chy my pht
in. Ph t lnh James v ng Xun c
thng bo l xng trong cc thng c th
cha mt t thuc khai quang, do , khi do
my pht in phun ra s cha hi thuc
khai quang c th nh hng n hoa mu
chung quanh. H cng c lu rng hi
bc ra t s thuc khai quang cn st li
trong cc thng khng cng c th l nguyn
nhn gy thit hi cho hoa mu gn .
(16)
X khn cp v r r t
my bay Ranch Hand
Trong trng hp khn cp nh ng c b
h v trng ha lc ca ch hay v l do k
thut, ton b 1.000 gallons thuc khai
quang trong bn cha trn my bay UC-123
phi c x khn cp (emergency dumping)
bo m an ton cho my bay v phi
hnh on. My bay UC-123 l loi my bay
dng trong Chin dch Ranch Hand. Theo ti
liu thng k ca Qun i Hoa K, c 37 v
thuc khai quang xy ra t nm 1965 n
1970; gm c 11 v vi 4.200 gallons cht
da cam, 8 v vi 2.100 gallons cht mu
xanh, 6 v vi 3.900 gallons cht mu trng,
v 12 v vi 1.600 gallons thuc khai quang
khng r loi (17).
H s lu tr ca Ban Hnh qun Ha hc
MACV cho thy nm v x khn cp t my
bay RANCH HAND xy ra trong khong t
ngy 1 thng 12 nm 1968. Mt v xy ra
ngoi bin ng, cch b khong 10 km v
pha nam tnh Bc Liu. Bn v cn li xy
ra trong phm vi c bn knh t 20 n 25
km chung quanh Bin Ha cao t 2.000
n 3.500 feet. Kt qu kho st mt v tr
cch Bin Ha 20 km v pha thng ngun
sng Guai [?] ca Marvin Davis bn USAID
cho thy thit hi v cy n tri, da, cy
king, v hoa mu c gi tr cao trong mt
vng rng khong 1 km v di khong 2 km.
mt v tr khc gn lng M Qui, tnh Bin
Ha ni cht DA CAM c x t cao
2.500 feet, vng thit hi rng khong 1 km
v di khong 2-3 km, cng theo phc trnh
ca Marvin Davis bn USAID. Cam qut,
xoi, chui, da, cau b thit hi nng nht.
Tuy nhin, hoa mu ngn ngy c trng 6
tun sau v x khn cp th khng b nh
hng. Thit hi ca cc v x khn cp c
th rt nng trong vng nh hng ca
chng, nhng nu gp iu kin thi tit
thun li, nhng vng chung quanh cng c
th b thit hi, nhng nh hn, v thuc b
thi tt i xa hn khi c phun cao kh
cao. Mt phn thit hi ca cy che mt
pha ng thnh ph Bin Ha c th do
nhng v x khn cp vng ph cn gy
ra. (16)
R r c th xy ra t my bay UC-123 hoc
trc thng nu vi ca h thng phun trn
my bay b r r. Vi thng b r r trn
ng bay tr v cn c sau khi hon tt phi
v. V mn bm b kt nn mt s lng nh
thuc khai quang cn st li trong ng phun
c th ri xung sau khi tt my bm thuc.
Mc thit hi do thuc khai quang r r t h
thng bm trn my bay UC-123 gy ra cho
6
hoa mu v cc loi thc vt khc th khng
c bit, nhng chc l rt thp v ch lin
quan n mt s lng nh thuc khai quang
v b khuch tn khi r r t cao kh cao.
(16) Lc ban u, r r t my bay Ranch
Hand b nghi ng l nguyn nhn ca nhng
thit hi nng n vn rau kiu mu
Qun Ha Vang trong thng 9 nm 1968.
Vn rau kiu mu ny nm pha nam ca
Cn c Khng qun Nng, trn ng ct
cnh thng thng ca my bay Ranch
Hand. Nhng Vic r r kh c th xy ra
khi my bay ct cnh hay trc khi thuc
khai quang trn my bay c phun. R r
ch xy ra khi kha b h sau khi phun
thuc... Cng cn ni thm l nhng vng
Nhng thng thuc khai quang
thit hi khc th nm ngoi ng bay ca vn chuyn qua Tn cng Si Gn (20)
my bay phun thuc khai quang. Hn na,
hoa mu ang trng bn pha ng Nng Tn cng Si Gn nm trn sng Si Gn,
(vng t mu nu trn bn ) th khng b cch Cng Si Gn khong 3 dm v hng
thit hi mc d my bay Ranch Hand vn bc, ngay pha di cu Si Gn trn Xa l
thng bay qua vng ny. (12) Si Gn Bin Ha. Cng do cng ty
Raymond International, Morrison-Knudson
Tai nn khng h bit International, Brown & Root and J. A. Jones
Tn cng Si Gn (RMK-BRJ) xy ct trn mt khu t rng
khong 100 acres, mt phn l rung la v
Tai nn tho thuc khai quang Tn cng mt phn l m ly ngp nc khi thy
Si Gn th khng h c bit n nh cc triu ln. Sau khi hon tt vo cui nm
tai nn khc, nhng c ghi nhn mt cch 1966, Tn cng Si Gn c iu hnh bi
tnh c qua cc hnh nh c nhn do thnh Tiu on Vn ti 71st c cn c Fort Story,
vin ca Tiu on Vn ti 71st chp v ng Virginia tip nhn tt c hng ha ca
ti trn mt trang web ca Allan Furtado Qun i Hoa K ang c bc d Cng
(mt trung s ca i i 154th) c a ch l Si Gn vo thi im (18).
http://www.allanfurtado.com.

Tn cng Si Gn nm 1968 (19)

Nhng thng thuc khai quang Tn cng Si Gn (21)

7
 Kh c b h hi (22)
Nhng thng thuc khai quang Tn cng Si Gn (21)

Cu Si Gn b h hi (21)

Nhng thng cht da cam Tn cng Si Gn (21)

Trong t Tng cng kch Tt Mu Thn giai

on 2, Tn cng Si Gn b pho kch bng
ha tin 122 mm v sng ci vo ngy 12
thng 5 nm 1968. V tn cng ny gy
thit hi quan trng cho c s v kh c
Tn cng Si Gn. Cu Si Gn cng b h
hi.

Vn phng iu hnh b h hi (22) Nhng thng thuc khai quang Tn cng Si Gn b h hi

vo thng 5 nm 1968 (22)

8
 Trong s cc thit hi c th l hng ngn o lut Tng qut v i ph, Bi thng,
thng cht da cam v cht mu trng, c v Trch nhim Mi trng (Comprehensive
ghi nhn tnh c trong mt bc nh vi li Environmental Response, Compensation and
ch thch: Bc nh ny cng c ng trn Liability Act (CERCLA)) v Lut Bo tn v
mt trong cc trang web ca Al Phc hi Ti nguyn (Resource Conservation
Krabbenhoeft. Ti ngh rng n ng and Recovery Act (RCRA)), thng c bit
chng ta xem li mt ln na. Mt nhn vin di ci tn a im Siu ngn
dn s Tn cng ang quan st v tr ni (Superfund sites). Nhng mc ny
James Lake thit mng v ha tin pho kch c n nh bo v sc khe con ngi
ngy 12 thng 5 nm 1968. C ang ci v v mi trng. Mt ppb [phn t hay 1.000
c chp nh. Hy nhn pha sau. l ppt] (TEQs, hay c tng ng) c
nhng thng b h v b. Khi nhn k s dng lm khi im n nh mc ty xa
thy nhng sc mu trng v da cam. Bc cho cc a im Siu ngn v lm mc
nh ny c chp bi SP4 Richard Allen tiu iu tr tm thi gim mc dioxin
Morawa, thnh vin ca i i 368th thuc trong t th c cc a im khc phc
Tiu on Vn ti 71st, ph trch bo v an nhim. i vi t thng mi/k ngh, mt
ninh cho Tn cng Si Gn vo lc (22). nng trong t t 5 n 20 phn t [5.000
n 20.000 ppt] (TEQs) phi c dng lm
TIU CHUN DNG khi im n nh mc ty xa cho cc
XC NH IM NNG a im Siu ngn v lm mc tiu iu tr
tm thi gim mc dioxin trong t cc
V Vit Nam cha c tiu chun dng xc a im khc phc nhim. (23)
nh a im nhim, HCL dng tiu
chun do tiu bang British Columbia, Canada C quan Phng nga Bnh tt v c t
(BC) n nh cho t nng nghip v t th (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
c/cng vin xc nh im nng dioxin Registry (ATSDR)) thuc B Y t v X hi
Vit Nam. bo v mi trng, tiu chun Hoa K cng ph chun mt ti liu
BC gii hn nng dioxin trong t mc hng dn tm thi (interim policy guideline)
10 ppt Tng TEQs i vi t nng nghip v lng gi nh hng ca cc hp cht
1.000 ppt Tng TEQs i vi t th c/cng dioxin v h dioxin (dioxin and dioxin-like
vin. bo v sc khe con ngi, nng compounds) trong t th c ti hoc gn
dioxin trong t khng c qu 350 ppt cc a im c cht thi c hi (hazardous
Tng TEQs cho tt c cc loi t (8). waste sites). Ti liu hng dn tm thi
ny gii thch mt cch r rng v hp l
Hoa K, C quan Bo v Mi sinh (EPA) chnh sch v ng li hin nay ca ATSDR
n nh mc tiu iu tr tm thi i vi nhng him nguy do s hin din ca
(preliminary remediation goals (PRGs)) hay TCDD (dioxin) v cc hp cht cng h t c
khi im cho vic n nh mc ty xa hn, chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs) v
dioxin trong t ti cc a im khc phc chlorinated dibenzo furans (CDFs), trong
nhim (corrective action sites) chi phi bi t th c.

Khi nng c tnh

C quan Bo v Mi sinh Hoa K (EPA) n nh mc tiu iu tr trong t thay i
tm thi (Preliminary Remediation Goals) hay khi im cho vic n nh trong khong t 50
mc ty xa dioxin trong t ti cc a im khc phc nhim chi phi n 1.000 ppt Tng
bi o lut Tng qut v i ph, Bi thng, v Trch nhim Mi trng TEQs, phng php
(Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act cn nhc bng chng
(CERCLA), thng c gi l cc a im Siu ngn. (weight-of-evidence
i vi t th c, 1 phn t (hay 1.000 ppt) Tng TEQs c dng lm approach) phi c
khi im ty xa dioxin cc a im Siu ngn v lm mc tiu p dng nh gi
iu tr tm thi gim dioxin cc a im khc phc nhim. mc nhim v
i vi t thng mi/k ngh, nng trong t t 5 n 20 phn t nh hng ca chng
(5.000 n 20.000 ppt) Tng TEQs c dng lm khi im i vi sc khe con
ty xa dioxin cc a im Siu ngn v lm mc tiu iu tr
tm thi gim dioxin cc a im khc phc nhim.
9
ngi. Nng 1.000 ppt Tng TEQs c
ATSDR xem nh l nng ca ha cht,
, cc bin php chn ng hoc ngn
nga nhim cn phi c cu xt, chng
hn nh kho st, kho cu, nghin cu y t,
gio dc cng ng, tu nghip, hoc iu tra
tnh trng tip xc vi nhim (exposure
investigations). Tuy nhin, nhng bin php
ny c th khng cn thit ty theo kt qu
lng nh ca Gim nh vin Y t (health
assessor). (24)
Gim nh vin Y t phi tr li cc cu hi
sau y:
Phm vi nhim rng nh th no?
nhim tp trung hay lan rng?
Ngi ln v tr con c tip cn d
dng vi t hoc ni nhim khng?
Vng nhim nh th no (c cy ci
hay khng)?
a im ny, chu k (hng ngy,
hng tun, hng thng) v thi
khong (thng, nm, trn i) tip
xc vi nhim ra sao?
Nu vic tip xc vi t th c c nng
dioxin vt qu 1.000 ppt Tng TEQs c
xem l thi qu, a im c ATSDR n
nh l nguy him cho sc khe cng cng.
V tr ca cc cn c qun s trong thung lng A Shau (26)
Cc bin php v ngh c bit v y t cn
phi c cu xt ngn nga hoc ngn 1996, t cn c c ca M c nng
chn vic tip xc vi nhim.
NNG DIOXIN TRONG T
CC IM NNG
Tri Lc lng c bit A Shau
Tri Lc lng c bit A Shau (nay l A S)
l mt trong ba cn c ca lc lng c bit
c thit lp trong thung lng A Shau (nay
l A Li). Thung lng A Shau, mt vng
t nhit i giu c v mu m di 35
miles, chy dc theo ranh gii pha ty ca
tnh Tha Thin. Bn c th cm nhn s
thn b ca thung lng khi nhn thy n ln
u tin, t trn khng hay di t. Ti
liu lch s ca A Shau khng c bao nhiu.
K t nm 1962, thung lng tr thnh c
mng ca lc lng Hoa K v Vit Nam
[Cng Ha] khi h thit lp cc cn c A
Li trong vng trung bc, T Bt trong
vng trung tm, v A Shau trong vng pha
nam. Ngoi ba cn c vi cc phi o t hon,
A Shau cn c khong 30.000 c dn thuc
sc tc Katu v Pakoh. Cc tri ny, tng
tri mt, b bt buc phi ng ca v khng
th tip tc hot ng di p lc ca Vit
Cng v qun Bc Vit. Yu t tip liu, thi
tit, v ch qun l cc l do ca vic rt
qun, u tin l A Li, ri T Bt, v sau
cng l A Shau vo thng 3 nm 1966.
Thung lng thuc quyn kim sot ca ch
qun trong hai nm. Mi n nm 1968, lc
lng Hoa K v ng minh mi tr li A
Shau, mt thin ng ca ch. (25)
Vo nm 1996, sau khi tham kho vi
nhiu c quan chc nng ca chnh
ph Vit Nam v cc y ban Nhn dn
trc khi xc tin vic nghin cu ti
ch, HCL tin hnh vic ly mu
thm d trong thung lng A Shau. D
kin ca chng trnh 1996 cho thy
cc mu t v c thu thp t A S
pha nam thung lng A Li c cha
dioxin (t: 33,3 pg/g v 112,6 pg/g
TEQ; c: 2,6 pg/g v 53,7 pg/g TEQ).
D kin nm 1996 l nn tng cho cuc
thm d chi tit hn trong nm 1997
A S v mt cn c khng qun nh
ca lc lng c bit M trong
vng Ging nh cuc thm d nm
dioxin cao nht (92,2 pg/g v 901,2 pg/g
TEQ); hp cht 2,3,7,8-T4CDD chim n
96% v 99,6% Tng TEQs ca cc mu ny.
10
D kin ny cho thy ngun gc ca 2,3,7,8-
T4CDD th c lin quan n cht da cam, v
hp cht ny l cht nhim chnh ca cht
da cam hin din trong loi thuc dit c
2,4,5-T [2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid],
mt thnh phn ca hn hp cht da cam .
(2)
Phi o A Li nm 1969 (nh: Raz Reed) (27)
Phi o T Bt nm 1969 (nh: Larry Wagoner) (28)
Tri Lc lng c bit A Shau v phi o nm 1969
(nh: Larry Wagoner) (28)
Nm 1999, HCL li tin hnh mt cuc thm
d khc bao gm ton th thung lng A Shau
vi trng tm l tri Lc lng c bit A
Shau. Ni chung, nng dioxin trong cc
mu t thu thp khp ni trong thung lng
A Li th thp hn rt nhiu so vi cc mu
t cn c A S c. Trung tm ca cc
hot ng qun s qui m ( l cc tri lc
lng c bit) c nng TCDD cao nht
Nh c ghi nhn trong cc cuc thm d
trc y, cc mu t ly tri Lc lng
c bit M A S c nng TCDD cao
nht (220 pg/g - 360 pg/g; Bng 2.3) Khu
vc pha bc ca cn c A S c mc
TCDD cao nht. Mc [dioxin] gim dn
v pha nam ca cn c. Tr s TCDD nm
1999 cn c A S th thp hn tr s nm
1997 (895,85 pg/g, Hnh 2.6), cho thy mc
bin thin rt cao ca nng trong phm vi
cn c S bin i ca nng TCDD
trong t gn cn c A S (1996, 1997 v
1999) cho thy nhiu khu vc ca cn c b
nhim cao, v mt vi ni [nng
dioxin trong t] c l vt qu tr s c
bo co trong phc trnh. (29) Nhng nng
trong t ch thay i t 26 n 46 ppt
Tng TEQs vng trung tm v t 4,9 n
16 ppt Tng TEQs vng pha nam ca cn
c. Hai tri lc lng c bit cn li trong
thung lng A Shau cng c HCL thm d,
nhng nng dioxin trong t th thp hn
rt nhiu. Cc nng ny thay i t 5,5
n 37 ppt Tng TEQs tri Lc lng c
bit T Bt v t 5,7 n 20 ppt Tng TEQs
tri Lc lng c bit A Li (29).
Cn c Khng qun Nng
Mc d Cn c Khng qun Nng c
HCL v y ban 10-80 xc nhn l mt trong
nhng im nng dioxin Vit Nam v c
MOU v Ford Foundation chn nghin cu
thm, d kin v tin tc lin quan n
nhim dioxin y th khng c bao nhiu.
Khng c mt v r r hay tho thuc khai
quang no c bo co, ngoi tr nhng
thit hi c ph bin trong nm 1968.
Vo nm 2003, trong mt cuc iu tra c
xem l mt phn ca K hoch nghin cu
dioxin cp nh nc tm hiu hu qu ca
cht c ha hc do Qun i M s dng
trong chin tranh Vit Nam (Chin dch
11
Ranch hand t 1961-1971) (NDRP), hai mu Khng qun Nng trong thng 3 nm
t c thu thp phn tch cc hp cht 2005 thay i t di 1 ppt n 269 ppt
polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins (PCDDs) v Tng TEQs vi nng TCDD cao nht l 227
polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDFs). V ppt (6). Theo y ban 33, Cn c Khng
cc bin php an ninh chng ti khng th qun Nng l im nng nng nht, vi
thc hin vic ly mu bn trong sn bay, do 85.000 m3 t nhim c nng trung
chng ti chn a im ly mu bn bnh l 10.000 ppt Tng TEQs (31).
ngoi sn bay gn ng bay, ni cht thi
t my by c ling ra ngoi sau cc Rng M
chuyn bay trong thi chin tranh [?]. (30)
Rng M l a im th hai c MOU
chn nghin cu
thm. Trc nm 1975,
M c gi l Chin
khu D l mt cn c
ca Qun i [Nhn dn]
Vit Nam trong thi chin
tranh Vit-M. Vng ny
chu nh hng nng n
ca cht c ha hc v
v kh git ngi. Trong
thi gian 1964-1969,
thuc khai quang c
phun Chin khu D
ph hy rng a
phng (Trung, T.V.
1982). Rng dc theo
ng 322, t sng ng
Nai n sui M (35
V tr ly mu vng ph cn Cn c Khng qun Nng nm 2003 (30)
km) hu nh b ph hy
hon ton v b phun thuc khai quang nhiu
Nng trong t o c 4,5 ppt Tng ln. Din tch rng b thit hi ln n
TEQs a im gn sn bay v 4,1 ppt Tng khong 3.000 ha. Vo nm 1975 (sau khi
TEQs a im kia. iu ny hp l, v Vit Nam c c lp), Lm trng M
nh chng ti ni trn, a im DN1 (MAYs) c thnh lp khai thc g cho
gn sn bay v l ni cha rc ca sn bay mc ch kinh t. Mt ln na, rng b tn
trong thi gian qua Tuy nhin, da theo d ph nghim trng. Vo nm 1982, sau mt
kin trong bng 5.4, phn ln Tng TEQ ca thi gian khai thc kh lu, ti nguyn rng
a im DN2 l do OCDD [octa- hu nh kit qu. Mc ch ca MAYs l
chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin] v 1,2,3,4,6,7,8- chuyn t khai thc qua khi phc rng. Cc
HpCDD cc hp cht c xem l t c hot ng trng rng tp trung vo nhng
(vi TEFs bng 0,01 v 0,001). Cc hp cht loi g c gi tr kinh t cao chng hn nh
ny c l pht xut t nhng ngun nhim Dipterocarpaceae, Hopea Odorata, v.v.
khc chng hn nh tro khi t thuc khai phc hi ti nguyn rng. Nhiu k thut ti
quang ph thi [?]. (30) Cng cn nn bit to rng c p dng tng gia sn lng
nng TCDD trong t a im DN2 l g c ghi trong k hoch. (30)
0,2 ppt.
Vo nm 1997, HCL v y ban 10-80 tin
Nng trong t cng c bit n qua hnh mt cuc iu tra trong vng ph cn
nhiu bi vit v tin tc bo ch; tuy nhin, phi trng qun s Rang Rang. Nng
chi tit v cc nng ny th khng c trong t thay i t 2,37 n 20,33 ppt
cung cp. Theo HCL, nng dioxin ca 21 Tng TEQs, v nng trong bn thay i t
mu t thu thp trong vng ph cn Cn c 2,64 to 7,93 ppt Tng TEQs (29).

12
Trong cuc iu tra 2003, chng ti thu Hng - Tnh ng Nai, (chm mu xanh) th
thp tt c 16 mu (10 sn bay Rang khng ph hp vi cc ta cung cp trong
Rang, 3 sui M , v 3 trong rng t lun n (chm mu vng). Tm mu t ly
nhin chung quanh). V khng thi gi, a im pha bc c nng thay i t
chng ti ch phn tch 6 mu (3 mu c 4,5 n 134,7 ppt Tng TEQs. Kt qu phn
kim chng bi Carso Lab v 1 mu c tch cho thy TCDD khng hin din trong
phn tch bi Carso Lab). (30) Nng mu c nng 4,5 ppt, nhng nng ca
trong t sn bay Rang Rang thay i t OCDD rt cao, t 384,3 n 44.972,8 ppt.
1,9 n 6,7 ppt Tng TEQs. Nng ca 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD v OCDF
mu t ly trong rng t nhin l 1,3 ppt (octachlorodibenzofurans) cng hin din
Tng TEQs. Nng ca mu bn ly sui nhng mc thp hn. Nng ca 2 mu
M l 2,7 ppt Tng TEQs. t ly a im pha nam l 43,7 v 148,8
ppt Tng TEQs.
Cn c Khng qun Bin Ha
Nng trong t cng c bit n qua
Vo nm 1999, 4 mu t c ly t Cn nhiu bi vit v tin tc bo ch; tuy nhin,
c Khng qun Bin Ha, l ni tng tr cht chi tit v cc nng ny th khng c
da cam trc kia (32). Nng trong t cung cp. Theo HCL, nng dioxin ca 24
ca cc mu ny c bo co l 0,04; mu t v bn thu thp trong vng ph cn
1.063; 610.874; and 1.180.737 ppt Tng Cn c Khng qun Bin Ha trong thng 3
TEQs. Cc mu t ny c cho bit l do nm 2005 thay i t 1,19 to 833 ppt Tng
c Gio s L Cao i thu thp (33), nhng TEQs vi nng TCDD cao nht l 797 ppt
khng mt ai bit v tr chnh xc ca chng (6). Theo y ban 33, Cn c Khng qun
c (34). Bin Ha l im nng nng th hai, vi
90.000 m3 t nhim c nng trung
Nm 2004, Cn c Khng qun Bin Ha li bnh l 6.000 ppt Tng TEQs (31).
c ly mu
trong k hoch
NDRP, nhng
cho n nay,
Cn c Khng
qun Bin Ha
vn chu s qun
l ca Qun i
Nhn dn, do
vic ly mu
cc k kh
khn (tht vy,
vic ly mu
chnh thc b
cm). Vi s tr
gip ca mt cn
b thuc S Mi
trng tnh ng
Cc v tr ly mu Cn c Khng qun Bin Ha
Nai, chng ti
c vo khu
vc gn i ra a ca sn bay ly mu T L THUYT N THC T:
(06/2004). Vo lc , nhng hot ng xy MT KHONG TRNG BAO LA
dng bn trong khu vc rt khn trng
nhm mc ch bin ni ny thnh khu gia D kin v tin tc hin c dng nh khng
c (cho gia nh binh s). (30) Nhng v tr bin minh cho thuyt im nng Hatfield.
ly mu, nh c ghi trn Bn ly mu Cc yu t quan trng nh hng n gi tr
Cn c Khng qun Bin Ha v h Bin ca thuyt ny c tho lun di y.

13
Ngun gc m h ca TCDD UH-1 th 3 thng 55-gallon cha y du
c (thickened fuel). Cc thng ny c
HCL suy on rng TCDD tm thy cc t trong li ch hng c v mc bn ngoi
im nng l TCDD trong thuc dit c da my bay bng dy. Tt c c th t cao
cam c dng trong chin tranh Vit Nam. 250 feet vn tc 0 v c chm ngi
Ging nh cuc thm d nm 1996, t bng lu n khi th t my bay. Mt vng
cn c c ca M c mc dioxin cao nht c ng knh khong 25 m b chy ri.
(92,2 pg/g v 901,2 pg/g TEQ); hp cht (36)
2,3,7,8-T4CDD chim n 96% v 99,6%
Tng TEQs ca cc mu ny. D kin ny Mt ngun TCDD khc trong vng ph cn
cho thy ngun gc ca 2,3,7,8-T4CDD th ca tri Lc lng c bit A Shau l
c lin quan n cht da cam, v hp cht pentachlorophenol (PCP), tng c dng
ny l cht nhim chnh ca cht da cam lm thuc chng mi mt cho cn c trong
hin din trong loi thuc dit c 2,4,5-T thi chin tranh (37). PCP cng c th hin
[2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid], mt din trong ha cht dng trong nng nghip
thnh phn ca hn hp cht da cam . (2) hin nay. im suy lun ny dng nh
Nhng c nhiu bng chng cho thy TCDD c kim chng bng nng OCDD cao
c th pht xut t nhiu ngun gc khc. nht (1.700 ppt) trong cc mu t ly
mt cnh ng x Hng Vn nm 1996.
Qu tht l TCDD chim 96% v 99,6% Tng Nng rt cao ca OCDD c kim
TEQs ca hai mu , nhng cc hp cht h chng trong cuc iu tra nm 1999. Trong
dioxin PCDDs/PCDFs cng hin din mc thung lng A Li, nng cao nht ca
rt cao, c bit l OCDD. Nng OCDD octa-dioxins (O8CDD [OCDD]) c tm thy
trong hai mu t ny ln n 697,05 v trong nhng vng c c dn v t rc ph
563,84 ppt. Cc hp cht ny chc chn bin (chng hn nh x Hng Thng,
pht xut t cc ngun gc khc, v cc 2.200 pg/g Tng O8CDD; ch B t, 1.100
ngun ny rt c th cng cha TCDD. Theo pg/g Tng O8CDD; x Sn Thy, 1.800 pg/g
Hn lm vin Y khoa (Institute of Medicine) v 1.100 pg/g Tng O8CDD; Bng 2.3).
ca Hoa K, phn ln dioxins v furans (29)
trong mi trng pht xut t s thiu t
(combustion) (Zook and Rappe, 1994, nh Tiu chun t ty tin
trch dn trong ATSDR, 1998). Nhng
tin trnh thiu t bao gm vic thiu t Tiu chun c dng xc nh nng
rc (waste incineration) (chng hn nh rc ca thuyt im nng Hatfield c l l yu
th, bn nc cng (sewage sludge), rc y t quan trng ng nghi ng nht. Dng
t, v rc c hi (hazardous waste)), t nh HCL ang c sc bin minh cho l
cc loi nhin liu (chng hn nh than, g, thuyt ca mnh.
v sn phm du ha), cc ngun c nhit
cao (chng hn nh l nung xi mng), cc Lc ban u, HCL dng tiu chun 350 ppt
ngun thiu t khng trn vn hoc thiu Tng TEQs ca BC, thay v dng mc tiu
kim sot (chng hn nh chy rng, ni iu tr tm thi ca EPA hay mc hnh ng
la, v t ci) (Clement et al., 1985; EPA, ca ATSDR, l 1.000 ppt Tng TEQs,
2000; Thoma, 1988; Zook and Rappe, 1994, khng nh tri Lc lng c bit A Shau l
nh trch dn trong ATSDR, 1998). (35) mt im nng dioxin, c l v nng trong
t cao nht cn c ny thp hn 1.000
Trong vng ph cn ca tri Lc lng c ppt Tng TEQs. HCL gii thch cho vic chn
bit A Shau, thiu t sn phm du ha, tiu chun cao hn nh sau: Tuy nhin, cc
chy rng, chy doanh tri, v t ci c th mc tc hi (thresholds) ca PCDD and PCDF
l nhng ngun TCDD. Vic thiu t sn c p dng phng ty khng thn
phm du ha xy ra trong chin tranh trng (conservative) bo v sc khe con
Vit Nam. dn bi p nhng ni c ngi vng nng thn Vit Nam. Tnh
cy thp v bi rm, Ban Ha hc ca S trng kinh t x hi thn x, c rt nhiu
on hin ang dng my bay [trc thng] nh nn t, ngi ln v tr con khng

14
mang giy dp, s lin h mt thit vi t Tht vy, thuyt im nng Hatfield dng
canh tc, v iu kin v sinh chung khin nh ch da trn mt d kin thc a duy
h tip xc vi cht nhim nhiu hn. Do nht tri Lc lng c bit A Shau ( l
, hng dn v tiu chun phi cao hn nng 901,2 ppt Tng TEQs trong nm
trong mi trng nh vy. (3) Nhng tiu 1997). Nhng d kin ny cng khng c
chun BC v mc tiu iu tr tm thi ca kim chng trong cuc iu tra nm 1999,
EPA hay mc hnh ng ca ATSDR c mt cuc iu tra c quy hoch cn thn
da trn s tiu ha trc tip t nhim kho st k hn phm vi ca nhng
(direct ingestion of contaminated soil); do vn c lin quan n cht da cam trong
, li gii thch ny c v khng thch hp. thung lng A Li. (29) Vn nghim
trng nht i vi d kin t do HCL thu
Mi y, HCL li h tiu chun 350 ppt Tng thp chnh l s vng mt kh hiu ca
TEQs ca h xung cn 190 ppt TCDD. L nhng a im ly mu. Tht vy, v tr
do ca s thay i ny khng c trnh by, chnh xc ca nhng mu t/bn do HCL
nhng n l tiu chun m HCL cn phi c thu thp trong cc cuc iu tra trong cc
cho cc cn c khng qun Nng, Ph nm 1996, 1997, v 1999 cha h c cng
Ct, v Tn Sn Nht c lt vo danh sch b (2, 29).
nhng im nng dioxin ca h, bi v nng
ca dioxin trong t/bn cc cn c ny D kin t c HCL dng xc nh cc
(269, 201, v 341 ppt Tng TEQs (6)) thp im nng khc cng khng kh hn. Cc
hn tiu chun 350 ppt Tng TEQs ca BC. cn c Ranch Hand Bin Ha v Nng l
nhng th d in hnh ca cc im nng
D sao i na, vic p dng tiu chun ca quan trng. Mt nng TCDD trong t
BC dng cho t nng nghip, th c v Bin Ha [khng r v tr] c ghi nhn ln

D kin t c HCL dng xc nh cc im nng cc cn c qun s (6)

cng vin xc nh cc cn c qun s c n 1,2 triu phn c (ppt) (Schecter et al.,

ca Hoa K l nhng im nng dioxin th 2001). Tin tc mt do cc khoa hc gia Vit
khng thch hp v mt k thut, nht l i Nam cung cp cho thy mc dioxin trong
vi cc cn c khng qun Bin Ha, t Nng [khng r v tr] c th ln
Nng, Ph Ct v Tn Sn Nht. Mc tiu n vi trm ngn ppt. (5)
iu tr tm thi ca EPA dng cho cc khu
thng mi/k ngh (t 5.000 n 20.000 ni no khng c d kin ti ch (on-site
ppt Tng TEQs) c v thch hp hn. soil data), HCL dng d kin t c thu
thp cc a im ly mu gn mi cn
D kin t ng nghi ng c [!?] xc nh cc im nng dioxin.
Cc cn c khng qun c ca M
D kin t c HCL dng bin minh cho Nng, Ph Ct, v Bin Ha c th c xem
thuyt im nng ca h dng nh khng nh l nhng im nng dioxin quan trng
ng tin, khng ph hp, v khng y . da trn nng TCDD ghi nhn c trong

15
vng h lu ca cc a im tnh nghi l HCL n nh li tiu chun t, ch cn
khu vc Ranch Hand. Cc a im tnh nghi 190 ppt TCDD (6).
ch yu ny cha c th nghim trc tip
trong nghin cu ca chng ti v khng
c php ca chnh quyn Vit Nam. Tuy
nhin, nhng tr s TCDD rt cao (Bng 1)
cho thy s quan h cht ch ca thuc dit
c da cam vi mc c hi tng qut ca cc
mu t/bn ny, bi v TCDD l c tnh
ca hp cht dioxin c trong cht da cam.
(6)

Hn th na, d kin t c trnh by

trong Bng 1 rt ng nghi ng v n khng
ph hp vi d kin bit. Th d nh Lm dng ha cht nng nghip (39)
nng trong t Cn c Khng qun
Nng (<1-269 ppt Tng TEQs) th khng ph Tuy nhin, d kin v tin tc hin c ng
hp vi kt qu thu thp trong nm 2003 nh khng bin minh cho thuyt im nng
(4,1 v 4,5 ppt Tng TEQs), vi tin tc mt Hatfield. HCL cho rng TCDD Vit Nam
ca cc khoa hc gia Vit Nam (vi trm pht xut t thuc dit c (tc l cht da
ngn ppt), v vi tr s ca y ban 33 cam) c dng trong chin tranh Vit Nam;
(10.000 ppt Tng TEQs). Chi tit ca d nhng d kin v tin tc mi nht cho thy
kin t c ghi trong Bng 1, k c bn TCDD c th do cc ha cht nng nghip c
v tr ly mu, khng c cung cp mc cha PCP hay do tin trnh thiu t, nht l
d cc v tr ny khng nm bn trong khu vic thiu t rc th. Tht vy, cc mu
qun s. tro thu thp trong nm 2003 t mt l t
rc y t thnh ph H Ch Minh v cc l
TM TT, KT LUN V t rc th Bnh Hng Ha, thnh ph
NGH H Ch Minh v Ph Ha, thnh ph Vng
Tu c nng dioxins (s nhiu) thay i t
Nm 1998, HCL cng b ci gi l thuyt 184 ppt Tng TEQs (trong c 6 ppt TCDD)
im nng Hatfield sau khi dioxin c tm n 12.328 ppt Tng TEQs (trong c 53
thy nng tng i cao (901,2 ppt ppt TCDD) (30).
Tng TEQs) trong mt mu t thu thp
trong vng ph cn ca tri Lc lng c
bit A Shau c trong nm 1997. Thuyt
im nng Hatfield, c dng lm khun
mu cho tnh trng nhim [TCDD] khp
min Nam Vit Nam, (6) cho rng tt c cc
cn c qun s c ca Hoa K (cn c khng
qun, cn c ha lc, cn c hi qun, v.v.)
min Nam Vit Nam c th c xem l cc
im nng dioxin, c bit l cc cn c
khng qun chnh yu nh Tn Sn Nht,
Bin Ha, v Nng, ni mt s lng ln
thuc dit c c vn chuyn, tn tr, v s
dng. Mc d mc nhim dioxin trong
Thiu t ba bi ti mt nh my C Chi (40)
vng ph cn ca tri Lc lng c bit A
Shau khng c kim chng qua cuc iu
HCL dng tiu chun t 190 ppt TCDD do
tra b tc nm 1999, HCL vn duy tr l
chnh mnh t ra lm cn bn cho l
thuyt ca h v cn c c th nng mc
thuyt. Tiu chun ny c v ngui khi so
d cc a im nhim ch yu cha
snh vi 1.000 ppt Tng TEQs ca mc tiu
c xc nh hoc th nghim [!] v v

16
 iu tr tm thi ca EPA v mc hnh ng phc kh thi. Nghin cu th nh, vi ngn
ca ATSDR dng cho t th c, v c v khon 342.800 la M, lng nh nh
lnh khi so snh vi 5.000-20.000 ppt Tng hng i vi sc khe cng cng qua t v
TEQs ca mc tiu iu tr tm thi ca EPA dy chuyn thc phm mt im nng
v mc hnh ng ca ATSDR dng cho t dioxin phi trng Nng v ngh cc
thng mi/k ngh. Cho d d kin ca bin php khc phc ngay lp tc. (38) Tuy
HCL c xem l ng tin cy, khng c mt nhin, ci im nng ca hai nghin cu
cn c khng qun no m HCL tnh nghi ny dng nh khng hin hu v d kin v
v iu tra c th c xem nh l mt im tin tc hin c cho thy nng dioxin trong
nng dioxin, nu mc tiu iu tr tm thi t Cn c Khng qun Nng hoc cha
ca EPA v mc hnh ng ca ATSDR bit (cha th nghim bn trong cn c)
(1.000 ppt Tng TEQs) c dng lm tiu hoc rt thp (di 5 ppt Tng TEQs st
chun t. bn ngoi cn c (30)). V l do , mt
chng trnh cng tc (work plan) phi c
C mt a im c th c kh nng bin son tho v cng b ly kin mt cch
minh cho thuyt im nng Hatfield. l rng ri (trong nc v quc t) xc nh
Tn cng Si Gn, ni m hng ngn thng v nh tnh ci im nng ny. Kt qu
55-gallon ng thuc khai quang b h hi nh tnh s c dng xem hai nghin
trong t Tng cng kch Tt Mu Thn giai cu va nu c cn thit hay khng.
on 2 vo thng 5 nm 1968. Hng chc
ngn gallons cht da cam c th tho Da theo d kin v tin tc mi nht, chng
trn mt t. Mc d tai nn tho thuc ta c th kt lun rng cc im nng TCDD
khai quang ny khng c iu tra, Tn hay cc vn dioxin, m HCL quan st
cng Si Gn c l khng c ghi trong c trong sut hn 12 nm nghin cu, c
danh sch im nng ca Hatfield v khng th khng hin hu Vit Nam hin nay.
c mt thit hi hay nh hng no c Nhng c l Vit Nam ang phi i din vi
khai bo, mc d n rt gn vng ng nhiu vn do PCDDs/PCDFs gy ra: cc
dn c nht. vn dioxins. Chng l cc hp cht h
dioxin t cc
ngun nhim
Da theo d kin v tin tc mi nht, chng ta c th kt lun rng cc khng phi l
im nng TCDD hay cc vn dioxin, theo l thuyt ca Hatfield cht da cam.
Consultants Ltd., c th khng hin hu Vit Nam. Nhng Vit Nam c Cc vn
l ang i din vi cc vn do PCDDs/PCDFs gy ra: cc vn dioxins ny
dioxins. Cc hp cht h dioxin ny khng bt ngun t cht da cam. nghim trng
Cc vn dioxins nghim trng hn v cng ngy cng ti t hn. Tht vy, hn v cng
TCDD khng tm thy trong mt mu t ly Bin Ha trong nm 2004, ngy cng ti t
nhng PCDDs/PCDFs c tm thy nng 121,5 ppt Tng TEQs. hn. Tht vy,
Trong mt mu khc, TCDD c tm thy nng 27,9 ppt trong khi TCDD khng
PCDDs/PCDFs c nng 548,5 ppt Tng TEQs. ng v mt khoa hc m c tm thy
ni, cc vn dioxins hin nay Vit Nam cn phi c ch v cu xt trong mt mu
nghim chnh hn cc vn dioxin, trn bnh din quc gia v quc t. bn ly h
Bin Hng trong
nm 2004
Mi y, HCL c y ban 33 yu cu thc (SSM9), nhng PCDDs/PCDFs c tm thy
hin hai nghin cu cho mt im nng vi nng 121,5 ppt Tng TEQs. Trong
phi trng Nng. Cc nghin cu ny mt mu khc (SSM8), nng TCDD ch c
c Ford Foundation ti tr. Mc ch ca 27,9 ppt trong khi nng ca PCDDs/PCDFs
nghin cu th nht, vi ngn khon ln n 548,5 ppt Tng TEQs (30). ng v
120.000 la M, l nghin cu c tnh di mt khoa hc m ni, cc vn dioxins
chuyn ca mt im nng dioxin phi hin nay Vit Nam cn phi c ch v
trng Nng, lng nh cc trng hp cu xt nghim chnh hn cc vn
tip nhim v ngh cc bin php khc dioxin, trn bnh din quc gia v quc t.

17
TI LIU THAM KHO

(1) Memorandum of Understanding. Meeting of the Vietnamese and United States

Delegations in Follow-Up to the Joint Vietnam-US Scientific Conference on Human
Health and Environmental Effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin. March 10, 2002. Hanoi,
Vietnam. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/external/usvcrp/mou31002.pdf.
(2) Hatfield Consultants Ltd. and Vietnam 10-80 Committee. 1998. Preliminary
Assessment of Environmental Impacts Related to Spraying of Agent Orange
Herbicide during the Vietnam War. Volume 1: Report, Volume 2: Appendices. West
Vancouver, Canada.
(3) L. Wayne Dwernychuk, et al. 2002. Dioxin reservoirs in southern Viet Nam A
legacy of Agent Orange. Chemosphere 47, 117-137.
(4) L. Wayne Dwernychuk, et al. March 2002. Agent Orange/Dioxin Hot Spots A
legacy of U.S. Military Bases in Southern Viet Nam. Presented at the Joint US
Vietnam Scientific Conference on Human Health and Environmental Effects of Agent
Orange/Dioxin. Hanoi, Vietnam.
(5) L. Wayne Dwernychuk. 2005. Short Communication, Dioxin hot spots in Vietnam.
Chemosphere 60, 998-999.
(6) Dwernychuk, LW, et al. August 2006. The Agent Orange Dioxin Issue in Viet Nam:
A Manageable Problem. Presented at the 26th International Symposium on
Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants. Oslo, Norway.
(7) HCL. December 4, 2006. Hatfield Awarded Ford Foundation Grant for Agent
Orange Study. http://www.hatfieldgroup.com
(8) British Columbia (BC) Waste Management Act. 1996. Waste Management Act
Contaminated Sites Legislation. BC Regulations 375/96. Canada.
(9) Buckingham, William A., Jr. 1982. Operation Ranch Hand. The Air Forces and
Herbicides in Southeast Asia 1961-1971. US Air Force, Office of Air Force History.
Washington, D.C.
(10) West, Keith W. March 24, 1970. Memorandum for: Chief of Chemical Operations,
MACV J3-09. Subject: Herbicide Storage at Bien Hoa AB. 12th SOS. Bien Hoa,
Vietnam.
(11) Michael, E.D. April 29, 1970. Memorandum for Record. Subject: Effects of
Herbicide Spills at Bien Hoa Air Base. Pacific Technical Analysts-Subsidiary. San
Francisco, California.
(12) Moran, John. 31 October 1968. Memorandum for: 7th Air Force, TACC. Attn: Lct
Robert McCollester. Subject: Herbicide Damage to Vegetable Plots Vicinity Da Nang
Air Base. Chemical Operations Division. MACJ3-09.
(13) Corey, Jim. 25 March 1969.Defoliant Damage in Da Nang City. CORDS/NLD/ICTZ.
(14) US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. 15 September 1969. Vietnam Lessons
Learned No. 74: Accidental Herbicide Damage. MACVJ3-053.
(15) Darrow, Robert A., Reed C. Bunker, and J. Ray Frank. 23 September 1969. Report
of Trip to Republic of Vietnam, 15 August-2 September 1969. Department of the
Army. Frederick, Maryland.
(16) Bills, Ray W. 26 September 1969. Memorandum for: III MAF Chemical Officer (Cpt
Lott). Subject: Report of Investigation into Possible Herbicide Damage at Vietnamese
Naval Compound at Da Nang. Chemical Operations Division. MACJ3-09.
(17) US Department of the Army. 15 October 1981. MACV Fixed Wing Aircraft Herbicide
Incidents. Alexandria, Virginia.
(18) Le Moine, Thomas F. Newport Terminal: A Historical Overview of a US Army Port
Facility Operated by the 71st Transportation Battalion. US Army. Fort Eustis,
Virginia. http://www.allanfurtado.com/newportterminal.html
(19) McNaught, David. Page 31. David McNaught. Some Photos I took In and Around
Newport Terminal. http://www.allanfurtado.com/davidmcnaughtnewport.html

18
(20) Farris, Gregory M. Page 40. Photos from Gregory M. Farris.
http://www.allanfurtado.com/gregoryfarris.html
(21) Krabbenhoeft, Alfred. Pages 17-19. Photos from Al Krabbenhoeft.
http://www.allanfurtado.com/alfredkrabbenhoeft.html
(22) Morawa, Richard Allen. Pages 53-54. Photos from Rich Morawa.
http://www.allanfurtado.com/richmorawanewport.html
(23) Fields, Timothy, Jr. April 13, 1998. Memorandum on Approach for Addressing
Dioxin in Soil at CERCLA and RCRA sites. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C.
(24) De Rosa, Christopher T., et al. August 21, 1997. Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds
in Soil, Part 1: ATSDR Interim Policy Guideline. Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Atlanta, Georgia.
(25) Horvath, Richard L. Undated. Mystique of the Valley, Fall 1968 Rendezvous with
Destiny Magazine. http://www.lcompanyranger.com/Ashau/ashauarticle2.htm
(26) Aton, Bert and William Thorndale. Undated. A Shau Campaign, December 1968
May 1969. Directorate Tactical Evaluation. CHECO Division. US Department of Air
Forces.
(27) Reed, Raz. Photos, Articles, and Maps of the A Shau Valley, Page 20.
http://www.lcompanyranger.com/Ashau/ashauarticle2.htm
(28) Wagoner, Larry. Photos, Articles, and Maps of the A Shau Valley, Pages 16-17.
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Strategies to Decrease Exposure. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C.
(36) Wickham, Kenneth G.. 9 December 1969. Operational Report Lessons Learned,
Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division, Period Ending 31 July 1969 (U). Department
of the Army. Washington, D.C.
(37) Schecter, A.J., J.J. Ryan, M. Gross, N.C.A. Weerasinghe, and J.D. Constable. 1986.
Chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans in human tissues from Viet Nam, 1983-84..
Chlorinated Dioxins and Dibenzofurans in Perspective. C. Rappe, G. Choudhary, and
L.H. Keith [editors]. Lewis Publishers. Ann Arbor, Michigan.
(38) http://www.fordfound.org/grants_db/view_grant_detail.cfm?grant_id=39336
(39) , Anh H. October 5, 2006. Cn thn vi thuc tr su. Bo Si Gn Gii
Phng. Thnh ph H Ch Minh, Vit Nam.
(40) Quang t. November 31, 2006. Xung quanh khu cng nghip Tn Quy - t,
nc v khng kh u nhim. Bo Si Gn Gii Phng. Thnh ph H Ch Minh,
Vit Nam.

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