Statement of joint committee for VN-US conference on Agent Orange
Ha Noi, Mar. 6 (VNA) -- The Joint Organizing Committee for the Viet Nam-U.S. Scientific Conference on Human Health and Environmental Effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin issued a statement at the closing session of the three-day conference in Ha Noi today, Mar. 6.
Following is the full text of the statement:
"Researchers from 19 countries reported results from almost 100 studies on the health and environmental effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin in this first open international conference held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, by two countries, Viet Nam and the United States.
"Two hundred and eighty scientists from Viet Nam and 120 scientists from the U.S., Australia, Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Laos, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden and Taiwan openly reviewed and discussed the dioxin and Agent Orange's impacts on human health and the environment. This conference begins the process of identifying research needed to fill important gaps in our knowledge about the health and environmental impacts of Agent Orange.
"Discussions on the health effects focused on scientific studies related to cancer and birth defects, endocrine system changes and reproductive system changes. The current research on related areas such as methods for reducing body burdens of dioxin and methods for preventing new exposures were also discussed.
"The presentations and discussions of the environmental research on dioxin included studies on methods and techniques for dioxin analysis, historical and current environmental levels, ecological impacts, food chain transfers and global cycling, and clean-up and restoration of the environment.
"The next steps for the joint government cooperation will be to build on the foundation provided by this conference to set priorities for future joint research projects in Viet Nam and for funding of relevant research in each country. The major goals of the conference (information exchange, scientific contact and open discussion of key scientific differences) have been achieved and even exceeded the expectations of the Organizing Committee. We look forward to a fruitful continuing dialogue with results expected by both sides."--VNA
