Ministry of Defense invited to detoxify mercury -contaminated areas

Environment watchdog invited the Ministry of Defense to detoxify mercury -contaminated areas around Rang Dong vacuum flask company which caused a blaze on August 28.
At the government’s periodic press briefing (Photo: SGGP)
At the government’s periodic press briefing (Photo: SGGP)
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan made the proposal at the government’s periodic press briefing yesterday while answering the environment monitoring after the blaze broke out in the company before.
Additionally, Mr. Nhan warned residents living within 500 meters around the company, fire fighters and company staffs to have medical checkup periodically.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Health will work together on medical checkup on residents, fire soldiers and staffs.
Mr. Nhan announced the Ministry has asked relevant agencies have taken samples of soil and water in the area around the company for testing.
According to the Ministry’s environment monitoring result, within 200 meters of the company’s fence, it is safe for human health; however, the results of air monitor in the company’s premises and water testing in rivers around the area have shown that it exceeds to the World Health Organization and EU’s standard resulting in bad consequences on human health.
Deputy Minister Nhan also affirmed that after the incident, the company must be removed out from residential quarters and polluters too. According to the Deputy Minister, 27.2kg of mercury has been leaked out to the surrounding areas.
Of around 100 people underwent urine or blood test in Hanoi-based Poison Control Center in Bach Mai Hospital to detect mercury exposure, 82 have low mercury concentration in blood lower than 10 mcg/L while 18 others have not received the result.
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