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The status and distribution of PCBs along the coast of Vietnam

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Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), well-known as an important scientific achievement, are now considered as one of the most persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that need to be strictly controlled and forbidden worldwide (the Stockholm convention on POPs). Vietnam is one of the countries that encounters with serious issues from PCB contamination. This study presented a comprehensive review on the status and contamination of PCBs along the coast of Vietnam. The contaminated PCBs data in the water, sediment and biological samples from 18 provinces along Vietnam coastline were collected from various sources. A comparison in PCBs contamination between Vietnam and other Asian countries was included. The status on PCBs contamination in Vietnam since participated as a party of the Stockholm convention on POPs in 2002 was also assessed. The results showed that Vietnam is facing serious PCBs contamination problems as it evidences the spread and accumulation of PCBs in the marine environment. The implementation of the Stockholm convention on POPs (PCBs in particular) has not yet demonstrated significant effect on the reduction in PCBs contamination in the environment. This information on PCBs contamination in Vietnam urges government to strengthen the mechanism, policy and legislation, the management capacity for PCBs as well as applying advanced and modern technologies in reducing, disposing and eliminating PCBs from the environment.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Project “Comparative study of Holocene Sedimentary Evolution of the Yangtze River Delta and the Red River Delta” (Project Code NDT.01.CHN/15).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mechanics (IMECH), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 264 Doi Can Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Pham Thi Minh Hanh

  2. Institute of Marine Environment and Resources (IMER), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 246 Da Nang Street, Ngo Quyen District, Hai Phong, Vietnam

    Duong Thanh Nghi, Tran Dinh Lan & Nguyen Van Quan

  3. University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Vietnam National University (VNU), 144 Xuan Thuy Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Dang The Ba

  4. Centre for Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development (CETASD), Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University (VNU), 334 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Pham Hung Viet

Authors
  1. Pham Thi Minh Hanh
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  2. Duong Thanh Nghi
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  3. Tran Dinh Lan
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  4. Nguyen Van Quan
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  5. Dang The Ba
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  6. Pham Hung Viet
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Correspondence to Pham Thi Minh Hanh.

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Hanh, P.T.M., Nghi, D.T., Lan, T.D. et al. The status and distribution of PCBs along the coast of Vietnam. Environ Geochem Health 41, 381–390 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-018-0168-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-018-0168-y

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