'Eating vegetables grown near cemeteries can easily cause illness'

Growing vegetables in cemeteries is definitely problematic because during the process of exhuming graves, some toxic bacteria stick to the vegetables, and people who eat them can easily get sick, said Mr. Pham Quang Ha, Deputy Director of the Institute of Agricultural Environment.

Vegetables are grown in the cemetery grounds in Vinh Quynh commune (Thanh Tri, Hanoi).

Many dry graves (cremation graves) in Vinh Quynh commune (Thanh Tri, Hanoi) have become lush green vegetable gardens.

Locals here say that the land area is not large, so growing vegetables in the cemetery grounds and on graves saves fertilizer and the vegetables grow very well. An anonymous resident said that the vegetables grown in the cemetery are only sold, not eaten.

Images and information about vegetables grown in some cemeteries in Hanoi have caused much concern for people. Many people do not know whether eating such vegetables is safe or not?

Regarding this, Mr. Pham Quang Ha, Deputy Director of the Institute of Agricultural Environment, affirmed: "Vegetables grown in cemeteries can cause users to contract dangerous infectious diseases. Although vegetables do not absorb organic substances from human bodies, during the process of exhumation, many toxic organic substances will be brought to the ground. These bacteria stick to vegetables, and people who eat them are very susceptible to disease. Therefore, before eating, people must wash and cook them thoroughly, and should not eat them raw because there are many types of bacteria that affect health."

There are three types of pollution affecting vegetables: heavy metal contamination, pesticide contamination, and harmful bacteria contamination. Low-lying areas in Hanoi are mostly discharged with domestic wastewater and industrial and urban wastewater. If this water is used to water plants, it will affect food hygiene and safety, Mr. Ha added.

Mr. Ha said that spraying pesticides and stimulants on vegetables first directly affects the growers, then affects the people who eat them.

According to Professor Nguyen Lan Dung: “Vegetables absorb selectively, not all substances are taken in by plants. However, if human fat sticks to vegetables, it will contain some harmful bacteria that affect people's health.”

Spiritually, no one wants to buy vegetables grown in such places, so it is best to grow flowers, especially chrysanthemums, which are both beautiful for cemeteries and can be made into goods. The second product that is in demand in the market is beautiful grass to sell to newly built houses in apartment buildings, villas or parks, Mr. Dung added.

Washing vegetables in dirty canals not only causes disease-causing microorganisms and parasites but also poses a high risk of contamination with toxic heavy metals. Vegetables should be washed with clean water sources, ensuring food hygiene and safety standards, and consumers should buy vegetables with clear origins, said Mr. Dung.

Morning glory sprouts growing from the water surface are black and scum-filled.

Herbs such as coriander, basil, fish mint... grow lushly on small graves.

One thing that scares many people is the lush green water spinach beds planted next to newly buried graves.

The canal is used by people to wash vegetables every day before bringing them to the market to sell.

According to Dan Viet