Many fish samples in Ha Tinh are contaminated with cyanide and phenol.

The results of testing 9 samples of various fish and crabs taken in Ha Tinh by the National Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene showed that 5 samples were contaminated with cyanide, 3 samples were contaminated with phenol and one sample had cadmium levels exceeding the permissible threshold.

On August 22, the National Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene reported the results to the Ministry of Health and sent the results back to the Ha Tinh Food Safety and Hygiene Department, which transferred the samples for testing.

Accordingly, 5 samples contaminated with cyanide include: Anchor fish with a toxic content of 3.9 mg per kg; stingray, 3-eyed crab with cyanide content of 0.8 mg/kg; barracuda 0.6 mg/kg; manta ray 0.5 mg/kg. 3 samples found to be contaminated with phenol are stingray 14 mg/kg, manta ray 8.3 mg/kg, 3-eyed crab 10 mg/kg. The amount of phenol detected in this fish sample is much higher than the level detected in 20 tons of frozen fish in Quang Tri in early June, which was 0.037 mg/kg.

Fish samples for testing were taken by the Ha Tinh Food Safety and Hygiene Department on August 5 at Cam Nhuong Fish Mound, Cam Nhuong Market (Cam Xuyen), and Ky Anh Beach.

Meanwhile, on August 24, the Food Safety Department, Ministry of Health announced that from the beginning of the month to August 19, out of 18 seafood samples taken from the Central provinces (Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue) tested, only one sample was found to have cadmium levels exceeding the threshold.

A representative of the Ministry of Health said that they will continue to take seafood samples in four central provinces for monitoring. Based on these results, the Ministry's Scientific Council will conclude whether fish caught in these provinces are safe to eat. The test results are expected to be announced by the end of August.

According to Ms. Tran Viet Nga, Deputy Director of the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health), the amount of phenol and cyanide in seafood has never been monitored in the world or in Vietnam, so there are no regulations on the threshold of these substances in food. After the environmental pollution incident, these substances were put under monitoring and testing.

As for phenol, the world has regulations on tolerance thresholds. Some studies by the European Food Administration show that the amount of phenol consumed daily by the human body through food at 0.18 mcg/kg body weight per day is safe.

Phenol is toxic, but not all foods are toxic when present, only at certain doses.can be found in sausages, fried chicken, fermented black tea… It is also naturally present in foods, especially in some fruits such as tomatoes, apples, peanuts, bananas in high amounts, and even milk.

Phenol can dissolve in water, partly excreted through the skin and urine, so eating small amounts is not too worrisome. If you are careful, when buying fish, housewives should let it thaw naturally, then soak and wash it in clean water, warm water many times, if there is phenol contamination, it will dissolve. You should throw away the skin, spongy tissues such as intestines, gills of fish because these tissues are easily contaminated.

Cyanide is the name of extremely toxic chemicals.Most cyanide in water comes from industrial processes. The main sources of cyanide in water are waste from mining, organic chemical industry, and activities related to iron and steel production.

According to VNE