by United Press International –

DALLAS, Aug. 25 (UPI) — A recent study says Agent Orange is still contaminating food in the Hoa City area of Vietnam.

The study, published in the current issue of the Journal Of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, indicates Agent Orange residue is responsible for high blood dioxin levels among the city’s residents.

The spraying of the defoliant ended 30 years ago, but Dr. Arnold Schecter of the University of Texas School of Public Health in Dallas said people are affected by eating highly contaminated foods, such as ducks, chicken and fish.

Along with an international research team, Schecter has collected samples of food from Hoa City, about 20 miles north of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

Very high levels of Agent Orange were found in most types of animals studied. The highest levels were found in ducks: up to 343 parts per trillion, compared with a usual level of less than 0.1 part per trillion.

Even higher dioxin levels were found in animal fats, which are considered a delicacy in Vietnam.

Copyright 2003 by United Press International.

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