Identifying key catalysts leading to land pollution in Vietnam

Since Doi Moi (1986), Vietnam is on its way to adopting technologies, industrialization, and international corporation with the aim of establishing a “basically industrialized and modernized economy” in 2020, and to reach a GDP/capita of 3000 USD/capita; in 2050 to reach the level of “an advanced economy” with GDP/capita by 10.000 USD (Le D., 2018). Although changes in major sectors have brought in tremendous growth for Vietnam's economics, these practices carry their own risks. Nowadays, plenty of farming and industrial land is suffering from severe pollution, which could trace to causes related to the lack of strategic objectives and sufficient management. It appears that Vietnam will struggle in finding an effective plan to obtain a sustainable environment for land at any time soon. Solid wastes were not collected with the environment in mind until the mid-twentieth century. Prior to that, waste was commonly dumped on the ground in "open dumps," which resulted in infestations of rats, mosquitoes, and other diseases, as well as foul odors and windblown debris. Despite the fact that there are now considerably safer waste disposal procedures, there are still a number of serious factors contributing to and exacerbating the problem. While there are numerous causes of land pollution, the following are a few of the most significant in Vietnam:

1. Litter

According to the Vietnam Environment Administration, the country produces around 70,000 tons of waste per day, with more than half of it produced in urban areas, with Ho Chi Minh City leading the way with 8,900 tons, followed by Hanoi with 6,500 tons (VEA).

Seventy percent of waste is buried in landfills, many of which are running out of space due to a lack of effective treatment facilities. Residents in the area protest them, claiming that they have been a source of odor and toxicity for decades. Supermarkets and stores give out plastic bags freely because they don't have to deal with the consequences, and littering is still a common practice. The authorities have been imposed a variety of regulations and guidance for local areas, specifically densely-populated areas. For the past three years, Hanoi has urged residents to place trash out for collection by garbage trucks only during unique hours, but to no avail. Littering sidewalks, highways, or drainage systems is punishable by fines of VND5-7 million ($215-300), but the legislation is rarely enforced.

2. Urbanization and Construction

While urbanization is not in itself littering, large quantities of people living, producing trash, and littering in a dense area do inevitably lead to land pollution. In 2019, Vietnam's urbanization rate was 36.63 percent. By 2050, it is anticipated that the urban population will outnumber the rural population. Because of the influx of immigrants and economic changes, as well as rising living standards, the urban population is rapidly increasing. Construction activities are often carried out to support the increased population, resulting in vast amounts of waste materials such as metal, plastic, wood, and bricks. When these materials aren't properly disposed of, they add to the area's land contamination. Cities have been built on soils that are better suited for other uses such as food and fiber, trees, and wetlands as a result of land-use change brought on by urbanization (Scheyer & Hipple, et al, 2005, p.6). Every day, new houses, buildings, highways, and other infrastructure are constructed. Are these decisions based on solid knowledge of the area's soil information? Are planners, developers, and planning agencies making intelligent and serious decisions when allocating lands for various uses based on soil information? Are they really care about soil? The ultimate response to these questions is a resounding "NO," because almost any change that has occurred and continues to occur is driven by economic considerations. The effect of urbanization on soil has been reported by Marcotullio, Braimoh, and Onishi (2008). The biological, chemical and physical properties of soil are altered by urbanization, resulting in the loss of vegetation, low water infiltration, heavy metal accumulation, excess water runoff, and soil erosion. Soil erosion is a common cause of soil depletion. The susceptibility of landslides or slope failures is determined by the stability of slopes (both natural and artificial).

3. Agriculture

Agriculture is one of the most important and complicated industries; it is both a simple economic field and a biological-technical framework. Since the use of bio-energy - plants and animals - is the foundation for agricultural production. It also can have profound effects on the planet. Agricultural pollution occurs when contamination created as a by-product of raising livestock and growing food crops is released into the environment, and the contamination is vast. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, more than 90 million tons of livestock excrement are released each year, but only 40% of it is handled. The remaining waste is dumped directly into rivers and canals, causing a foul odor and negatively impacting people's health and the atmosphere. Viet Nam used 15,000 to 25,000 tons of pesticide per year, with an average of 0.4 to 0.5 kg per hectare (Le D., 2018). As a result, 9,000 tons of highly radioactive waste is released into the atmosphere as a result of cultivation activities.

Hoang Tu Anh

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References

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