HCM CITY — Test results of five water samples in the area around the Đông Thạnh garbage dump in Hóc Môn District revealed high nitrate and ammonium levels, according to the city’s Health Department.

The substances could transform into a compound that leads to a high risk of cancer in humans, the department said.

The department has asked the Preventive Medicine Centre and Cancer Hospital in the city to coordinate with it in checking the area around the dump and adopting measures that improve the residents’ health, the Dân Trí online newspaper reported.

At a meeting with voters in Hóc Môn District last month, Đinh La Thăng, the city’s Party Secretary, heard several complaints from local residents on the serious environment pollution here, the newspaper reported.

The pollution has affected the lives of hundreds of people living near the dump, many of whom have been diagnosed with cancer. In one case, five members from a single family caught the disease and some of them have died.

Residents have reported the situation to the local authorities many times, but have had to still live with the pollution for the past several years.

The secretary criticised the local leaders for their irresponsibility, due to which pollution in the area had not been checked.

He asked the concerned agencies to survey and check the pollution near the garbage dump and to quickly find a solution.

He also instructed the health department to conduct free health checks for the local residents to reassess the pollution effects. —  VNS