VietNamNet Bridge – The US Department of State has launched a project that will survey the volume of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Mekong basin, speakers said at a four-day seminar at HCM City's University of Science yesterday, Dec 13.

Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap Province. (Photo: Internet)

They will discuss the details of their data sampling strategy before they make a field trip to Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap Province.

The study, expected to be completed in 2012, seeks to create a baseline for POPs in the entire Mekong Basin by sampling sediment samples from wetlands. It also aims to enhance the research ability of scientists in Viet Nam.

Daniel A. Clune, principal deputy assistant secretary of the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, said at the seminar that " the Lower Mekong Initiative is further evidence of our strong partnership in the areas of environment, health, education and infrastructure."

The US Department of State has provided US$200,000 funding for the POP study in the Mekong basin, along with in-kind contributions from various universities in the region.

Biologist Tran Triet, of HCM City's University of Sciences, said all the samples would be taken to HCM City for tests.

The scientists will examine laboratories in HCM City to determine whether they meet international standards for the project.

The project is part of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Lower Mekong Initiative, in which the US is partnering with Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam to meet transborder educational, environmental and health challenges.

POPs are a major contributor to declining human and environmental health worldwide.

The Mekong River Basin is one of the world's most important rivers for supporting human life through agriculture and commercial fishing, but little research has been done on POPs in the Mekong.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News