Environmental pollution costs Vietnam up to five percent of the
national GDP annually, according to recent assessments made by the
World Bank (WB).
It translated into 3.9 billion USD
in 2007, and 4.2 billion USD in 2008, said the bank, adding that the
country also has to spend another 780 million USD each year on public
health treatment due to environmental pollution.
According to a survey conducted by the Vietnam Environment
Administration, health care costs related to air pollution amounted to
295,000 VND (14 USD) per capita annually in the two northern provinces
of Phu Tho and Nam Dinh.
Meanwhile, 80 percent of
the country’s dysentery and diarrhoea cases are caused by contaminated
water sources. About six million cases of water-related dysentery and
diarrhea have been reported just over the past four years, which
incurred total treatment expenses of about 400 billion VND, not to
mention indirect costs.
Pollution also affects
agricultural and aquaculture production, the bank said, citing several
cases when industrial factories released untreated waste water into
rivers.
Environmental pollution, especially air
pollution, poses bad impacts on Vietnam’s tourism, while increasing
its expense on improving the environment, said the WB.
At the same time, environmental pollution is also a reason behind
interest conflicts among groups in the society, which can be seen in
recent law suits launched by farmers against Vedan or San Miguel Pure
Foods companies.-VNA