Study finds high pesticide levels in local food

[rooster59]

Study finds high pesticide levels in local food

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation 

 

 

NGOs call for law forcing industry to declare discharge of toxic substances

 

Recent research has disclosed that serious contamination from persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and herbicides in food and the environment poses health threats to the Thai public.

 

The research, from Ecological Alert and Recovery – Thailand (EARTH) and Thailand Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN), found that Samut Sakhon had the highest levels of dioxin contamination. The level of contaminants known as polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PBDD/Fs) was 33 times higher than European Union standards, Meanwhile, 46 per cent and 55 per cent respectively of fruit and vegetables were found to contain pesticides and herbicides.

 

The organisations said that toxic substances posed serious health threats and the authorities had not put enough measures and regulations in place to protect the public.

 

Jindrich Petrlik , the executive director of the NGO, Arnika – Toxics and Waste Programme, said studies on POPs contamination in Thailand’s major industrial heartlands included an analysis by EARTH of 11 free-range eggs samples from six areas across the country in 2015 and 2016.

 

 

Petrlik said the researchers were shocked to find that the industrial area in Samut Sakhon’s Muang District had the second highest contamination of PBDD/Fs in the world.

He explained that the team collected eggs from chickens that foraged freely in the study areas. The eggs were used as indicators of POPs contamination in the food cycle and environment of that area, and the analysis of one of two egg samples from Samut Sakhon found the dangerously high level of PBDD/Fs of up to 84.04 nanograms per kilogram.

 

Egg samples from Saraburi’s Ban Mo district had a level of PBDD/Fs at 11.73 nanograms per kilogram, and eggs from Prachin Buri’s Tha Thum district had 4.14 nanograms per kilogram – both higher than the EU standard of 2.50.

 

According to EARTH, PBDD/Fs are among the most dangerous POPs and contribute to many negative impacts on human health. All areas that registered high levels of this toxic substance were in major industrial zones.

 

EARTH director Penchom Saetang cautioned that the major issue that contributed to this problem was that Thailand still does not have a Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) law and there were no reports on toxic substances discharged from individual factories.

 

Penchom said that even though there is a pioneer project of voluntary pollutant-release reporting in Rayong’s Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, only 22 per cent of participating factories actually reported their discharges.

 

“Therefore, the authorities have to develop and enforce a PRTR law in order to pursue the goal of reducing POPs discharged to the environment,” she stressed.

 

Meanwhile, Thai-PAN coordinator Prokechon U-sap said that separate research on pesticides and herbicides in fruit and vegetables found that all samples from nine markets, three department stores and four supermarkets in Chiang Mai, Pathum Thani, Ratchaburi and Songkhla had higher than average contamination from toxic substances.

 

Despite the fact that the overall level of contamination in fruit and vegetables was slightly better than last year, Prokechon stressed that most popular vegetables – such as cowpea, asiatic pennywort, Chinese kale, Thai basil leaves and red chilli – had high levels of pesticides.

 

“The most concerning finding is that 55 per cent of 76 samples are contaminated with herbicides – especially Paraquat and currently illegal substances such as Carbofuran. These substances had not shown up in testing on these fruits and vegetables before,” she said.

 

Kingkorn Narintarakul Na Ayuthaya, BioThai Foundation coordinator, said that the relevant state agencies and food distributors needed to disclose the sources of the contaminated food so the problem could be solved at its root. Kingkorn noted that even some certified fruit and vegetables had high levels of pesticide contamination.

 

Kingkorn also disclosed that the alliance of environmental organisations was considering suing the Agriculture Department for allowing the renewal of licences for Paraquat against the recommendations of the Public Health Ministry.

 

Disease Control Department (DCD) Occupational and Environmental Diseases Bureau director Dr Chantana Padungtod said the agency was well aware of this threat and constantly sent teams to monitor public exposure to toxic substances.

 

According to DCD, 8,689 people became sick from pesticide toxins last year. Many of them were farmers, who constantly use pesticides in their fields.

 

“It is quite hard to detect diseases from exposure of toxic substances, as these sicknesses are often not acute. It takes time for people who are exposed to toxic substances to show symptoms, because the toxin will have to accumulate in their body,” Chantana said.

 

“Therefore, we have an at-risk population group for this kind of sickness – those who work or live close to these toxic substances, such as farmers and industrial workers – and we are working closely with this group to protect them from toxin-related diseases.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30333056

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-03

[smedly]

Like everything else in Thailand enforcement of standards doesn't exist, enforcement of anything doesn't exist, standards don't exist - because it costs money

 

Buying submarines exists - corruption exists  

[Jeremy50]

Let's be clear, there are no controls in Thailand, and any controls that do exist can easily be circumvented with a bribe. This is what happens when corruption becomes 'acceptable'. Meanwhile, millions of honest people are being slowly poisoned. 

The companies that manufacture these chemicals are owned by some of Thailand's richest families, who will easily buy out any attempts to limit distribution.  The farmers don't care, they couldn't give a damn if the fruit and vegetables they are selling are full of toxins, just so long as they can maximise profits.

[smedly]

8 minutes ago, Jeremy50 said:

Let's be clear, there are no controls in Thailand, and any controls that do exist can easily be circumvented with a bribe. This is what happens when corruption becomes 'acceptable'. Meanwhile, millions of honest people are being slowly poisoned. 

The companies that manufacture these chemicals are owned by some of Thailand's richest families, who will easily buy out any attempts to limit distribution.  The farmers don't care, they couldn't give a damn if the fruit and vegetables they are selling are full of toxins, just so long as they can maximise profits.

Great post and 100% agree, my post above was trying to say exactly the same thing but not in so much detail, if I could like your post twice I would

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

Like everything else in Thailand enforcement of standards doesn't exist, enforcement of anything doesn't exist, standards don't exist - because it costs money

 

Buying submarines exists - corruption exists  

Higher cancer rates, and other diseases due to exposure to toxic substances, may exist in the years and decades to come. Hopefully, Thailand's healthcare system will be well-prepared for that.

 

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, Jeremy50 said:

The farmers don't care, they couldn't give a damn if the fruit and vegetables they are selling are full of toxins, just so long as they can maximise profits.

common knowledge by farmers in the farming province i lived that these are poison;

they keep separate gardens for their own families that do not have all these chemicals;

my brother-in-law attempted suicide by ingesting these pesticides

[rebo]

I would be interested about the contamination levels of the stuff sold at the "Royal Project" markets and shops which claim to sell chemical free food ...

[Card]

How many times have I read on this forum that Thai food is "so damned delicious, cheap,  healthy and never done me any harm", especially regarding street food.

 

Thai food is generally NOT healthy, due to the contaminants and street food, using cheap oils that are overused and overheated is the worst.

 

And organic? How many studies that they are also contaminated do people need before they stop claiming it is the only way to ensure safety from pesticides in Thailand?

 

The only way forward are GMOs (ex herbicide resistants) that help crops resist pests and diseases.

 

Personally I try to restrict myself as far as possible to imported frozen foods and peelable local fruits, but doubt they are pesticide-free, but at least the frozen stuff is generally fresher and has some kind of traceability and standards compared to the local market stuff.

[Destiny1990]

Seems this is a much more serious issue then smoking on a beach however nothing gets done very amazing..

Why other countries do protect its citizen from this but why here we ALL can slowly get poisoned?

[Muggi1968]

They forgot  to check the use of meta-testorone in fish and animal production....



 

[berrec]

OMG, so what you're telling me is if I am lucky enough to avoid the potential of death or injury on the Thailand road networks, eating locally grown produce containing toxic substances will likely get me in the long term anyway.  

 

Geeze, my first year living here in Thailand and I am wondering now if I will make it successfully through to the end of year 2.

 

And I thought navigating around the pimps and hustlers at central Sukhumvit was my greatest danger to living in Thailand.

 

 

 

[Dukeleto]

Zero surprises, Zero enforcement, Zero action. Net result...Zero!

[Muggi1968]

5 minutes ago, berrec said:

OMG, so what you're telling me is if I am lucky enough to avoid the potential of death or injury on the Thailand road networks, eating locally grown produce containing toxic substances will likely get me in the long term anyway.  

 

Geeze, my first year living here in Thailand and I am wondering now if I will make it successfully through to the end of year 2.

 

And I thought navigating around the pimps and hustlers at central Sukhumvit was my greatest danger to living in Thailand.

 

 

 

You can always choose to only eat food from China....

 

[spidermike007]

The level of contaminants known as polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PBDD/Fs) was 33 times higher than European Union standards.

 

This is what happens, when a nation is run by a group of kleptocrats, who care not one iota for the common population. No safety standards exist here. Is that an accident? An oversight? No. It is the result of a staggering level of indifference, bordering on malfeasance. 

[ricardofel]

One of many reasons why I left Thailand! The way it works....inspectors visit growers who claim they are growing organic...give them some non-pesticide produce to test and after they get stamped with "organic" they go back to using pesticides. Incompetence & greed has always been rampant in Thailand whether in the education system, food for the masses, dangerous buses & vans and NOBODY cares! It will never change.....and thank God I left!

[VincentRJ]

Just go on a fast periodically to detoxify your body, and you should be okay. Say, a two day fast once a month should be sufficient. By fast, I mean  taking nothing but clean and pure water for the period. Don't even drink coffee.

 

What!! To difficult for you? So how much do you value your health? 

[Lupatria]

Too bad the sporty tourism Lady is gone. I’m sure she would have come up with a new program to combine these subjects:

 

MoL joins hands with 15 agencies to promote Thailand as Kitchen of the World +

 

Study finds high pesticide levels in local food =

 

Forget Nembutal! Try out Thai Euthanasia Tourism- Die the gourmet way!

 

Kitchens of the world? - Poisoned food? Or carving for a Happy Meal?

[Airbagwill]

3 hours ago, Jeremy50 said:

Let's be clear, there are no controls in Thailand, and any controls that do exist can easily be circumvented with a bribe. This is what happens when corruption becomes 'acceptable'. Meanwhile, millions of honest people are being slowly poisoned. 

The companies that manufacture these chemicals are owned by some of Thailand's richest families, who will easily buy out any attempts to limit distribution.  The farmers don't care, they couldn't give a damn if the fruit and vegetables they are selling are full of toxins, just so long as they can maximise profits.

I agree, and it is particularly disconcerting to see that the area around Ban Chang is potentially yet again a hotspot.

Here only 22% of companies are volunteering evidence of their discharges in a scheme that puts the onus on them to say what is going on.

How can anyone take this seriously??

many of the expats (not the locals) are in absolute denial of the situation there, but the evidence and reports just keep piling on...

[masuk]

So, if one survives crossing a road (no-one stops at a zebra crossing) driving on the roads (61+ fatalities per DAY!), you don't break your neck falling into holes on the footpaths, then eating fruit, eggs, vegetables are a hazard to your health.

If you survive the smoky season in the northern provinces, where masks need to be worn, then you are blessed.

I can't imagine anyone wanting to bring children here.  Retiring?  not a great idea.

[Airbagwill]

7 minutes ago, VincentRJ said:

Just go on a fast periodically to detoxify your body, and you should be okay. Say, a two day fast once a month should be sufficient. By fast, I mean  taking nothing but clean and pure water for the period. Don't even drink coffee.

 

What!! To difficult for you? So how much do you value your health? 

Absolute unmitigated balderdash - you cannot "detox" your body...

[hobobo]

2 hours ago, YetAnother said:

common knowledge by farmers in the farming province i lived that these are poison;

they keep separate gardens for their own families that do not have all these chemicals;

my brother-in-law attempted suicide by ingesting these pesticides

Did he succeed? If not, maybe the pesticides aren't all that concentrated?

[TomJoad]

You might be able to get rid of some toxins by drinking only water for a couple days, but many of the bad toxins are able to dissolve in our fat (PCB's for example) which is how they build up over time.  

[VincentRJ]

17 hours ago, Airbagwill said:

Absolute unmitigated balderdash - you cannot "detox" your body...

Try reading the following article. There's lots of research that shows the health benefits of fasting. If you are obese with lots of fat that contains toxins, you'll have to fast more seriously.

https://www.tylertolman.com/health-articles/water-fasting-benefits-detox-cleanse/

[bbbbooboo]

hmmmm..... and this is a surprise ?

[seajae]

nothing to see here, profits always come first in Thailand, making money over rides all the laws/requirements of govt regulations. The fact anyone supposed to make sure regulations/laws are being followed refuse to do their jobs and instead take money on the side doesnt help,  corruption in Thailand is simply too rife and pays too well , it will always win out 

[eliotness]

Only 22% of factories reported their discharges.  That is a shockingly low number.  There should be a big push for ALL factories to undergo ISO 14001 certification.  Yeah, I know, this is Thailand and even if the did some/most would attempt to bribe the inspectors/auditors.  The current government, love or hate them, has got powers most governments do not have and could easily enforce controls  -  if they so desired !!!!!

[smew]

So, while growing veggies and fruit farmers spray them with all these nasty chemicals.

Then , to make them

look fresh: sellers and other vendors spray them with amaldayde( funeral fluids to make you look fresh in coffin) as was reported some months ago ( even major supermarkets guilty of this practice), and we end up eating this cocktail of chemicals thinking we are eating fresh fruit; this country has no control over anything that is taking place all in the name of the extra baht. Maybe it’s time to grow your own produce to consume!

[atyclb]

1 hour ago, ricardofel said:

One of many reasons why I left Thailand! The way it works....inspectors visit growers who claim they are growing organic...give them some non-pesticide produce to test and after they get stamped with "organic" they go back to using pesticides. Incompetence & greed has always been rampant in Thailand whether in the education system, food for the masses, dangerous buses & vans and NOBODY cares! It will never change.....and thank God I left!

 

 

wow, i wanted to say that but worried i'd be called a bigot

[Cranky]

1 hour ago, berrec said:

OMG, so what you're telling me is if I am lucky enough to avoid the potential of death or injury on the Thailand road networks, eating locally grown produce containing toxic substances will likely get me in the long term anyway.  

 

Geeze, my first year living here in Thailand and I am wondering now if I will make it successfully through to the end of year 2.

 

And I thought navigating around the pimps and hustlers at central Sukhumvit was my greatest danger to living in Thailand.

 

 

 

Sukhumvit at 3.00 a.m. is a walk in the park.  Muggers, dodgy LB's and African hustlers are reasonably easy to avoid if you are not totally hammered (which is likely at 3.00 a.m. of course) as they are in plain sight, but being aware of all the things you cannot see less so.  Apart from poisonous food:  Baseball bats and guns lurking under drivers seats just waiting to be used, huge fines for doing something innocuous like having a fag on your first days holiday on the beach, having the temerity to question a bill in a bar and getting your face filled in, riding to your death in a minivan, falling down an unprotected drain or getting electrocuted by a stair-rail.  Be afraid, be very afraid.

[Cranky]

Favorite all time saying heard many years ago, conversation went something like:

 

"So, how long have you been living in Thailand"

"Couple of years" I reply

"So you think you know your way around then"

"Yeah, seems to be fairly straightforward" I say

"Mate, I've been here 35 years and I still know effall"

 

10 years to go before I work my way up to effall