Projects

Pure Earth’s TSIP (Toxic Sites Identification Program) identifies and assesses contaminated sites in low- and middle-income countries, where public health is at risk. Pure Earth-trained local TSIP investigators visit and document sites using the Initial Site Screening (ISS) protocol. The data is then reviewed and entered into Pure Earth’s TSIP database of polluted sites, which helps governments understand, prioritize and address pollution in their countries. 

Pure Earth has been working in Vietnam since 2009 in collaboration with the Centre for Environment and Community Development (CECoD). Pure Earth’s focus in Vietnam has been on the heavily industrialized “craft villages.” More like factory collectives, each craft village focuses on the manufacture of one product in an informal, cottage industry-type setting.

In 2018 and 2019, Pure Earth and CECoD worked with Bac Ninh Department of Natural Resources and Environment and other local authorities to complete the assessment of 10 sites in Bac Ninh province of Vietnam under the TSIP framework. Based on the results, three sites were identified for further investigations to develop preliminary site assessment (PSA): (i) Man Xa Craft Village (for aluminum recycling), (ii) Dai Bai Craft Village (for copper fine art products) and (iii) Chau Khe Craft Village (for steel recycling).