Bui Cach Tuyen, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This paper contains reviews of the author's studies on the contamination of the environment and agri-products caused by pesticides (organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids) and other contaminants (heavy metals, PCBs, nitrate, etc.) since 1994. Fauna and flora (both aquatic and terrestrial), water, soil and sediments were analyzed for the above-mentioned contaminants using AAS, HPLC and GC-NPD -ECD.

The results show that pesticide contamination of crops (higher-than-MRL cases) are mainly due to the inappropriate use of pesticides (other than that following the post harvest interval)and excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers. Even though the analytical results of 1995 for heavy metals in soil, water and plants were high, most results of the year 2000 were lower. Especially, arsenic concentrations in surface and well water (181 samples) were found to be lower than standard, thus unlikely to impose impacts for the health of people consuming natural waters. With some exceptions, PCBs were also detected lower than standards in 160 samples (soil, sediment, wastewater, fauna and flora) collected in 1998 and 127 samples collected in 2001.

Generally speaking, the environmental contamination levels due to agri-products such as pesticides and other contaminants in some southern provinces of Vietnam have been gradually alleviated thanks to the concerted efforts of agricultural experts, farmers, mass media and the general public.

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