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by CHHAY SPHAL, Reuters

Mineshi Sakamoto, of the Japanese environmental agency's Minamata Institute, was shocked to see the 3,000 tonnes of waste from petrochemical giant Formosa Plastics spread out on open ground in this southern province.

He warned soldiers clearing up the mess they should wear protective clothing provided despite the intense heat.

``This is the first time I have seen something like this,'' said the expert on mercury contamination brought over by the World Health Organisation.

``I am very surprised to see this and I am very sorry for the people of Cambodia -- it's an injustice.''

News of the waste sparked riots in Sihanoukville last weekend in which one person was killed as protesters sacked offices of officials they blamed for allowing its import.

Four more died in a panicked exodus of more than 10,000 people fearing contamination, while the Health Ministry has said the deaths of at least two residents appeared linked to unprotected movement of the waste.

The Environment Ministry's Pollution Control Department made available a copy of a facsimile from Singaporean testing laboratory Matcor Technology & Services, which said analysis of a sample showed a mercury concentration of 675 parts per million.

``The total mercury concentration is very high,'' Sakamoto told Reuters in response to the data. ``According to these results, it's dangerous, but at the moment it's difficult to say more than that.''

He cautioned that the method used to give the test results was not sophisticated enough to determine the exact nature of the mercury contamination and therefore exactly how dangerous it was. He also said the test results did not show whether the concentration was uniform over the entire shipment.

He said tests on samples he would take back to Japan would determine if the mercury was organic or inorganic. He said organic mercury could cause nerve disorders, while the inorganic type could cause lung and skin problems.

He said tests he conducted at the sight did not show any metallic mercury in the air.

Sakamoto's institute is named after Japan's Minamata Bay, scene of the world's worst ever case of mercury poisoning.

Hundreds died and thousands suffered crippling nerve disorders after eating seafood polluted by mercury compounds dumped into the bay by chemical firm Chisso Corp from 1953 to 1960.

Formosa Plastics has said its waste had traces of mercury but had been certified by Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration as non-hazardous and safe for landfill disposal.

Sakamoto was alarmed to see soldiers clearing up the waste had removed protective suits and masks brought over from Singapore and Vietnam after finding them too hot in the intense tropical heat.

He said they should all wear protective clothing and masks and avoid direct skin contact with the waste.

``They should be wearing their masks and gloves. It's dangerous for them to work without protection,'' he said. ``If you wear proper protective clothing, then it shouldn't be too much of a problem.''

George Petersen, country representative of the World Health Organisation, also expressed concern about the dumping.

``It unjust to put this waste in Cambodia. The country that produced the waste should take care of it,'' he said.

Cambodia has demanded Taiwan take back the waste, but Taipei says Phnom Penh should launch a full inquiry before apportioning blame.

Petersen said it was still too early to assess exactly how hazardous the waste was.

``It's difficult to determine. We need to get a clearer understanding of exactly what it is. Given the volatility of the situation we have to be careful. The potential for social unrest might be more dangerous that the waste itself.''