US EPA

5882906 

Journal Article 

The status and distribution of PCBs along the coast of Vietnam 

Hanh, PTM; Nghi, DT; Lan, TD; Van Quan, N; Ba, DT; Viet, PH 

2019 

Yes 

Environmental Geochemistry and Health
ISSN: 0269-4042
EISSN: 1573-2983 

41 

1 

381-390 

English 

30094588 

10.1007/s10653-018-0168-y 

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.