Quang Binh destroys 606 tons of cadmium contaminated fish

Implementing the Government’s instruction, the central province of Quang Binh had destroyed 606 tons of cadmium contaminated fish which businesses bought from fishermen from April to August 30, said director of the provincial Department of Health Nguyen Duc Cuong yesterday.



The department took 130 samples from 3,200 tons of fish kept in the businesses’ cold warehouses. Of these 30 samples were tested positive for cadmium exceeding permissible level, equivalent to 606 tons, he said.

The cadmium tainted fish including anchovy, small tuna, grouper, butterfish and cuttlefish were covered in canvas sheets and buried at a garbage dump northwest of Dong Hoi city. Environmental workers spread lime powder and probiotics in burying holes before filling them up with soil, he added.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment in the province said that they had to mobilize 12 trucks to carry the poisoned fish to the garbage dump during three days from December 10-13.

Businesses whose fish was destroyed would receive financial assistance, said the Department of Industry and Trade.

Quang Binh is one of four provinces including Thua Thien-Hue, Ha Tinh and Quang Tri where the sea environment has been devastated by Taiwanese steel company Formosa who released untreated wastewater into the sea killing fish en masses in April.

SGGP