Chemicals dumped into Lao river contaminate water source, kill fish
An investigation is underway to find those responsible for ammonia bicarbonate pollution in Huon River.
Authorities in northern Laos are searching for those responsible for a toxic chemical dump that contaminated a river, killing fish and depriving villagers of an important source of water.
The pollution in the Huon River in Ngoy district in Luang Prabang province highlights lax oversight of foreign investment in Laos, where companies flock to exploit natural resources with little regard for the impact on the environment and communities.
Last week, villagers said they discovered several empty bags floating in the river, a branch of the Nam Ou River, which is a main tributary of the Mekong. The bags were labeled in Chinese as containing ammonia bicarbonate – a colorless solid used in the food industry as a leavening agent for flat baked goods.
The dump killed off many of the river’s fish and on Monday, authorities from the Department of Agriculture and Forestry warned people in at least five villages not to eat fish from the river or use it for drinking or washing, residents told RFA Lao.
While largely replaced in the home by baking soda, ammonia bicarbonate is used in China as an inexpensive fertilizer. The chemical dissolves in water, forming a mildly alkaline solution but can cause irritation to the skin, eyes and respiratory system.
A district official who, like other sources in this report declined to be identified for safety reasons, told RFA that an investigation had been launched to find those responsible for the pollution.
“The district governor has appointed a committee to inspect the contamination and to look for a person or persons who dumped the bags into the river,” he said. “They’ll be charged and fined.”
Another official in Ngoy said that authorities took samples of the water, bags and fish for testing, and were awaiting results.
When contacted by RFA, an official from the district’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment said they were unable to comment on the spill while an investigation was underway.
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‘These people rely on the river’
A Ngoy villager said that the dump had seriously damaged the environment.
“The pollution has impacted all aquatic species and the livelihoods of residents who live along the river,” he said. “These people rely on the river – they fish, drink and bathe in it.”
Another villager said residents “dare not consume the water or fish” and wanted authorities to explain what kind of chemicals were dumped in the Huon.
The owner of a restaurant on the bank of the river told RFA that nobody had become sick from the pollution as of Wednesday, but said it had decimated the area's fish stocks.
Northern Laos has experienced two major chemical spills since the beginning of the year – both involving trucks transporting sulfuric acid to gold mines.
Translated by RFA Lao. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
