Bangkok: The Pollution Control Department has revealed concerning levels of arsenic in the Reak and Mekong rivers, attributing the contamination to decreased water levels and slower flows during the dry season, which lead to sediment accumulation.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Surin Worakitthamrong, the Director-General of the Pollution Control Department, clarified that the dry season is the primary cause of increased arsenic contamination in the Kok and Mekong Rivers. He explained that reduced water volume and slower currents result in more sediment settling in riverbeds. Continuous monitoring is being conducted to ensure the public is informed with accurate facts.
Mr. Surin disclosed that the latest sediment quality monitoring in the Kok River, its tributaries, the Sai River, the Ruak River, and the Mekong River revealed unsafe arsenic levels for benthic organisms, with some areas showing severely hazardous levels. The Kok and Mekong Rivers, in particular, exhibited high arsenic levels at all monitoring points, consistent with the dry season's low water levels and slow flow causing sediment accumulation.
Although the sediment showed high arsenic levels, heavy metal concentrations in aquatic animals were within safe consumption limits. The Department of Fisheries advises following scientific guidelines to mitigate long-term contamination risks. These include thoroughly cooking food, avoiding repetitive consumption of the same seafood type, reducing intake of bottom-dwelling animals like shrimp and shellfish, and avoiding fish offal.
Mr. Surin emphasized that all information is shared in accordance with an environmental and health impact monitoring group, involving various sectors such as environment, agriculture, and public health, to provide precise information to the public. Relevant agencies have established a continuous monitoring and surveillance plan for environmental quality and public health. This includes monitoring water, sediment, aquatic life, benthic organisms, agricultural crops, and soil, and consistently sharing information with the public to prevent long-term health and ecosystem impacts.