"A recent Japanese study showing dangerously high levels of dioxin exist in Phnom Penh's dump.

The two-year study's final report is written by Professor Shinkuke Tanabe of Japan's Ehime University's Center for Marine Environmental Studies and was released Dec 29. The report shows high levels of dioxin in the soil and dangerously high amounts of heavy metals in the metabolisms of young boys who scavenge the dump for recyclables. Nearly 900 tons of city garbage is dumped at the Stung Meanchey district site each day.

Environmental pollutants have become a growing concern in many developing Asian countries that have experienced rapid economic and population growth. In Cambodia, which is one of the poorest countries in Asia, there is very little information on environmental contamination after years of civil wars."

Excerpt from an article from The Cambodia Daily on Feb. 2, 2001 By Lor Chandara