Mysterious fire burning at an industrial waste storage facility in Ban Khai District, Rayong Province, entering the 4th day of extinguishing the fire with difficulty. While the civil society sector asks questions Storing suspicious industrial waste and may be connected to an industrial waste storage factory. There have been problems before in the Ayutthaya Province area, including the preventive work process of government officials. Resulting in harmful toxic residues affecting the surrounding villagers. 25 April 2024, Ecological Restoration Foundation (EARTH) posted on Facebook updating the incident of a fire at a factory storing toxic waste in Ban Khai District, Rayong, which is entering the 4th day of the fire incident, found that the weather throughout the area of Villages 1, 4, and 8 of Ban Nong Phawa was filled with white smoke, floating low, until around 7:00 a.m. onwards it gradually subsided. go down Because the smoke rose higher. And there was a strong wind blowing in waves. causing the smoke to spread to the north In the area of Village No. 8, when measuring air quality The odor level was found to be higher than 5,000 to nearly 10,000 parts per billion (ppb), while the value of small dust particles (pm 1-10) was approximately 100-150 ug/m3 and the value Total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when returning to the incident area. Officials found that The value of small dust particles (PM 1-10) reached a level of 1,000 ug/m3 and it was found that Warehouse 5 continued to emit toxic fumes. Amidst the mystery of a fire in a chemical warehouse and pollution problems that occur with surrounding villagers. “Penchom Saetang” Director of the Niwet Restoration Foundation, gave information that a fire in a chemical waste storage factory The province and related agencies had a meeting to put out the fire by 24 April, but were unable to put it out. because fire had broken out again shows that the burning of industrial waste It is not easy to extinguish with ordinary water. What is difficult in extinguishing a fire is Under the building, used oil waste is hidden. and chemicals used as fuels Therefore, it is an obstacle to extinguishing fires burning on the floor of the building. But underground there is still an oil waste pond. And there are some chemicals that cannot yet be told what chemicals they contain. So the fire department team Assessing the fire extinguishing situation incorrectly From the above situation, it is believed that today, April 25, 2024, the fire still cannot be extinguished completely. The mystery of the industrial waste fire “Penchom” analyzed that the fire in the industrial waste storage factory in Rayong Province may not have been an ordinary fire. investigation to find evidence It is the duty of the police to proceed. But entering a factory during a fire is quite dangerous. From the experience that the agency has made and the incident occurred in a similar manner It is often caused by the work of people. It is interesting that There are people questioning the connection with the industrial waste storage facility in Phachi District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. The scene of a similar fire recently, which when examined in the meeting area, resembled a ping-pong bomb. Tie wooden skewers to the factory floor at approximately 100 points. In the past, the agency has joined with the police and related agencies to investigate. Industrial waste storage facility in Phachi District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province in March 2023 until a “secret warehouse” was found that had been made into a room. When industrial waste fills the room Will use cement to seal it off. If the officials go to check and don’t know. I thought it was a normal cement wall. But when the cement wall is broken Many chemical tanks were found. Surprisingly, no one knew that a large amount of hazardous waste was secretly stored. The discovery of a secret warehouse in Phachi District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Due to the sheriff Received complaints from villagers that There is yellow water. Smells strongly flowing from this place causing the death of many fish in the water source Initially, the district chief went to inspect and found a well. located inside the factory It was originally an ordinary well. But this pond has chemical waste and wastewater dumped into it. before the water in the pond flows into natural water sources The water is expected to be highly acidic. Because of the edge of a public pond Almost all have yellow stains. Therefore, it was the starting point for villagers to complain. There is another industrial waste storage facility in Klang Dong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, where a fire also occurred. An investigation was conducted until it was found to be the work of humans. causing a lot of damage Until the Department of Industrial Works ordered it closed, as well as the industrial waste storage facility in Si Thep District, Phetchabun Province, villagers in the area had gathered to block the road. To prevent garbage trucks from being sent to landfills in the area. Later, it was discovered that a 200 liter chemical waste tank had been secretly dumped at Delang Subdistrict, Lopburi Province, totaling approximately 80,000 liters. Today, hazardous waste is left in the old location. Still can’t handle it. Meanwhile, the relevant government agencies do not yet have a budget for management. It has become an area contaminated with quite severe toxins until now. The cause of an industrial waste disposal plant that is not up to standard after a fire in an industrial waste storage facility in Ban Khai District, Rayong Province, the Federation of Thai Industries (F.T.I.) has come out to express its opinion that the private sector that accepts industrial waste disposal which do not meet the standards, making up only 1 percent of the total of 550 entrepreneurs, but “Penchom” sees that the private sector that disposes of industrial waste not up to standard As estimated, it is up to 50 percent. Otherwise, the disposal of industrial waste is not up to standard. or secretly stored in a secret warehouse There will be many important reasons: Deindustrialization is very expensive. If it is to be disposed of correctly, there is a cost of 5,000-20,000 baht per ton, resulting in a decrease in the profits of the producing company. Because in the past investing for the environment It is often considered that investment must be as low as possible. “There are approximately 11 groups of hazardous industrial waste that the Department of Industrial Works has defined, including petroleum waste. Coming from the oil refining industry including the automobile industry and industries that require oil, while chemical waste comes from the electronics industry. that is a substance in the solvent Every industry has industrial waste. Which residue is dangerous or not? It depends on the production industry. “Industrial waste is highly hazardous, including petroleum waste that is contaminated with heavy metals and carcinogens, water from industrial waste that is contaminated with solvents. is acidic When entering natural water sources or surrounding community which is a substance that can cause cancer, slag from industrial waste Some types when entering the human body Causes cancer. Normally, industrial waste disposal has different costs. But there has been destruction since 1. Landfill (Secure Landfill) is a landfill that is stable. To prevent waste containing hazardous substances from seeping into the ground. A large hole must be dug. Compacted with a layer of soil, a layer of sand, a layer of gravel, covered with a rubber sheet that is resistant to chemical corrosion. But before sending it to landfill There must be a process to make the chemical waste clump together and not leak. 2. Burn and destroy it in a lime kiln, but it is dangerous. If the firing temperature is not high enough The pollution filtration system is not good enough. Make it a source of air pollution. 3. Adjust the condition to remove certain substances from industrial waste. Industrial waste pollution is serious and causes cancer. “Penchom” said about the effects that Many communities around industrial waste storage facilities have problems. Environmental problems were found, such as a shallow well in the community that was shared by villagers. There is a bad smell from contamination. Even if you wash it, it cannot be used. Or in the case of an industrial waste spill in Ratchaburi Province, causing the longan orchards of the villagers. More than 100 trees stood dead. Farmers who got rich from exporting longans Become bankrupt in the blink of an eye Examples of recent impacts From a fire at an industrial waste storage facility in Ban Khai District, Rayong Province, the villagers’ rubber plantations, totaling 12 rai, were damaged to the point of having to cut them all down. Just like a pond used in a garden. It has become a pond contaminated with toxic substances. The industrial waste storage factory is not up to standard. It aggravates the PM 2.5 dust problem in the case of a fire at an industrial waste storage facility in Ban Khai District, Rayong Province. The dust from combustion stays in the air for a long time. It’s not like putting out the fire will end the matter. Because chemical waste will spread in the air, it is considered secondary PM 2.5. that is dust particles that have dangerous substances attached to them Even though there was a fire in Rayong This does not mean that Bangkok people or other provinces are safe But dust contaminated with chemicals Can live for a year By floating in the direction of the wind In which area do you go to the island? And if there is a strong wind It floats on the wind and can travel further. If the wind blows to Bangkok Can result in pollution.” Chemicals from the burning of hazardous waste that adhere and float along with dust. Contains everything from dioxin that causes cancer Has a lifespan of up to 10 years, including heavy metals, cadmium, mercury, and these substances accumulate in the lungs of humans. Causes cancer. Suspicious corruption. The government sector is not yet the main cause of many industrial waste fires. Questions were asked from the public sector. Regarding the issue of suspicious corruption, “Penchom” commented that It is a matter that the relevant agencies have not been able to find answers to in many cases. Because if there is no corruption The problem of hiding industrial waste in many places will not occur. “Industrial waste problem It occurred from the corruption of government officials who supervise it. Therefore, the incident occurred The state must prosecute to the utmost extent. That the law is not sacred Government officials who commit wrongdoing are not to be feared. or the private sector that has committed a crime without responsibility to the public The law on offenses in this matter is not severe. But if the size is not severe, it will not be used as punishment. Some private individuals have committed crimes worth tens of billions of baht to the country. But today I’m still happy. not being prosecuted Why do people cause this much damage to the country? Still able to escape Meanwhile, law enforcers are profiting from the cycle of wrongdoing. and find a way to avoid it so that the punishment doesn’t come back to punish itself.” In the past, Thai government agencies There is no serious management of industrial waste. Because of fear of losing the investment atmosphere Afraid that foreign investors will not dare to invest in Thailand. But people in the country receive pollution from industrial waste in installments. Keep accumulating. Without a solution. Thank you for the picture from Ecological Restoration Foundation (EARTH)
