132 bottom seafood samples in four central provinces contained phenol.

The Ministry of Health detected phenol in 132/1040 seafood samples from four central provinces, including: crab, shrimp, mantis shrimp, snails, squid, stingray, octopus, and stone crab - these are bottom-dwelling seafood species.

Mr. Ha Cong Tuan, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, announced the information on the morning of September 20 - Photo: D.TRANG

No cyanide was detected in any samples.

Regarding the implementation of fish sampling to answer the question of whether eating fish is safe, the Ministry of Health has coordinated with relevant ministries and localities to carry out sampling of seafood, testing and providing results to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The Ministry of Health affirmed that throughout the research process, the Ministry of Health closely coordinated with experts from the World Health Organization and food safety and testing experts from Japan and Canada.

Samples were sent for verification at the Testing Labs of Osaka University - Japan and the Singapore Solution Center.

The test results at foreign testing laboratories show consistency in test results with the two Vietnamese institutes.

The results of the research and analysis of fish samples showed that all types of seafood in four central provinces and three control groups, compared, did not detect any samples containing cyanide - a substance identified as one of the causes of fish deaths.

Bottom-dwelling seafood contains phenol.

According to the published results, the mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium, arsenic and iron levels in seafood in 7 provinces are all within the permitted limits, ensuring safety according to regulations. The test results for seafood in aquaculture ponds in 4 central provinces are all safe.

Specifically, for phenol, all samples of pelagic seafood such as tuna, mackerel, mackerel, yellowtail, silver pomfret, hairtail, cowfish, orange bream, herring, mullet, anchovies and other pelagic seafood in the four central provinces were not detected with phenol.

However, the Ministry of Health also said that phenol was still detected in 132/1040 seafood samples from four central provinces, including crabs, shrimp, mantis shrimp, snails, squid, stingrays, octopus, and stone crabs - these are bottom-dwelling seafood species.

According to the joint ministry, the distribution of 132 seafood samples with detected phenol were all within an area of ​​25km (equivalent to about 2.7-13.5 nautical miles) with the highest rate of contaminated samples in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh and the lowest in Lang Co beach - Thua Thien - Hue.

From the above research results, the Ministry of Health concluded that all seafood such as tuna, mackerel, mackerel of all kinds, yellowtail, silver pomfret, hairtail, cowfish, orange bream, herring, mullet, anchovies and other seafood living on the surface, seafood in the ponds of the 4 Central provinces are all safe for use as food.

Seafood such as crabs, shrimp, mantis shrimp, snails, squid, stingray, sardines, octopus, and stone crabs are bottom-dwelling seafood species within 13.5 nautical miles that are not safe for use as food.

To ensure consumer health and safety, the Ministry of Health recommends not using seafood such as crabs, shrimp, mantis shrimp, snails, squid, stingrays, octopus, stone crabs and other bottom-dwelling seafood within 20 nautical miles.

Decrease over time

According to the joint announcement, after the announcement of the current status of the Central Sea on August 22, there are still three areas 1.5 km from the shore in Son Duong - Ha Tinh (area of ​​about 300 km2), Nhat Le estuary - Quang Binh (area of ​​about 330 km2), Son Cha island - Thua Thien - Hue (area of ​​about 160 km2), due to the impact of local eddies, these 3 areas have some environmental parameters in the seawater higher than other areas, need to continue to be monitored.

On the morning of September 20, the joint ministry said that up to now, according to the results of environmental monitoring of the central sea conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in the above 3 areas, all monitoring parameters are within the prescribed limits, meeting the standards for aquaculture and aquatic conservation areas.

The joint ministry affirmed that with strict control of emission sources from Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation and due to the natural cleaning mechanism of the environment, the content of pollutants from the environmental incident has decreased over time.

The quality of marine water environment in all monitored areas is within the limits of Vietnamese standards, meeting the standards for bathing areas, water sports, aquaculture and aquatic conservation.

Currently, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is still implementing and will continue to implement the marine environmental monitoring program in the Central provinces to monitor the status and developments of environmental quality, and promptly warn when the marine environmental quality shows signs of pollution.

Note bottom seafood

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan said that in order to restore aquatic resources and aquatic ecosystems that are habitats for aquatic species, fishermen are advised not to exploit in three sea areas: Son Duong island, Ha Tinh province (1.5 km from shore with an area of ​​about 300 km2), Nhat Le estuary - Quang Binh (area of ​​about 330 km2), Son Cha island - Thua Thien - Hue (area of ​​about 160 km2).

At the same time, do not use bottom fishing techniques such as trawling, bottom trawling, bottom fishing, cage trapping, and exploitation of natural bivalve mollusks in the sea area 20 nautical miles from shore in the provinces from Ha Tinh to Thua Thien - Hue.

Regarding seafood food safety supervision, Deputy Minister Ha Cong Tuan said that he will supervise fishing ports and wharves when ships return to shore and pay attention to bottom-dwelling seafood commonly found in the waters of four central provinces.

The time for monitoring sampling is when the exploited products are unloaded from the fishing vessel and brought ashore for consumption. The frequency of monitoring sampling is 2-3 times/day, depending on local conditions.

Deputy Minister Ha Cong Tuan said that in order to quickly determine the damage as a basis for compensation, it is necessary to support people in the four affected provinces to compile statistics and determine the damage caused by the marine environmental incident in the provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien-Hue.

The Ministry of Finance has presided over and coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien-Hue to review the damage assessment to submit to the Prime Minister before September 20.

In addition, Mr. Tuan also affirmed that he is implementing the overall project drafted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to "determine, compensate for damages and support to overcome consequences, restore production, and change jobs for people affected by the incident".

Currently, according to Mr. Tuan, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is asking for opinions from ministries, branches and People's Committees of four affected provinces about this project.

According to Tuoi Tre