New data from blood, sediment, and soil in a city in the south of Vietnam strongly suggests that dioxin from Agent Orange is present in Vietnam, and is currently contaminating people, including mothers and children.
There are several locations in the south of Vietnam where we have previously, beginning in 1970, collected specimens of human milk and blood, food including fish and shrimp, sediment, and soil. Analysis of these samples suggested a number of geographical areas where elevated dioxin from Agent Orange contaminated Vietnamese. We revisited Bien Hoa City, 35 km north of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), and found elevated dioxin in almost all blood samples from persons born after Agent Orange spraying ended in 1971, as well as marked elevation of dioxin in fish eaters.
Our findings suggest that although spraying ended 30 years prior to our most recent sampling, Agent Orange continues to be a serious health threat in Vietnam.
Learning Objectives: Discuss continued contamination of Vietnamese and soil, sediment, and food in Vietnam from past exposure to dioxin contaminated Agent Orange
Keywords: Vietnam, Agent Orange
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.