Cadmium scandal sheds light on loopholes in Thai law on hazardous waste

[webfact]

 

After more than 1,000 tons of carcinogenic cadmium waste from Tak went missing, concerns are growing that loopholes in Thailand’s hazardous waste controls could be fatal.

 

Exposure to cadmium and its compounds can lead to fever, headache, and breathing difficulties. Worse still, it is known to cause cancer and also exacerbate diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

 

Health checks on locals living near a Samut Sakhon-based foundry where 6,492 tons of smuggled cadmium waste was found earlier this month showed unusually high levels of the poisonous metal in 16 people’s urine. They require medical treatment.

 

The foundry’s operator, J&B Metal Co Ltd, was listed as the buyer and recycler of 13,882 tonnes of cadmium waste from Tak-based Bound and Beyond Public Co Ltd (BEYOND), previously known as Padaeng Industry.

 

However, only half of that amount was found when the foundry was searched by officials from the Department of Industrial Works and the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division.

 

A further probe led to the discovery of 6,043 tons of cadmium waste in four other locations, including Samut Sakhon-based Cin Hong Check Inter Tech Co Ltd.

 

A co-owner of Cin Hong said he had bought 5,000 tons of cadmium waste from J&B Metal for 8,250 baht per ton to sell to another Chinese businessman, whose factory is located in Chon Buri.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-04-20

 

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[Emdog]

"....concerns are growing that loopholes in Thailand’s hazardous waste controls could be fatal.".... but not to the wealthy owners who rake in the profits. Just the unprotected ignorant workers

[dinsdale]

Interestingly the full article does not mention corruption which may well have played a part. Environmental laws are a joke here with officials being paid off to turn a blind eye. 30 years ago one could safely swim in the khlongs in and around Bangkok. They are all poisoned now with industrial waste not to mention all the garbage. It is illegal to discharch industrial waste into the khlongs yet it is a widespread practice.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

loopholes in Thailand’s

I wonder what is the bigger problem: loopholes or not enforced laws?

And why are laws not enforced? Maybe because of corruption?

What's the point of fixing loopholes if the rich and influential don't care about the laws?

[bradiston]

Here's the root of the problem:

 

"the Department of Industrial Works and the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division."

 

Ever heard of them before? Just another couple of do nothing departments nobody even knew existed. The Thai civil service, 400,000 paper shufflers on a fat wage and pension, with preferential treatment by the banks and high levels of personal debt.

 

Yes, "We're in the Nepo generation..."

[Peterphuket]

It's much worse. This is a link to a video that I posted yesterday under another item that concerns the item.

About plastic bottles in Bangkok.

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

After more than 1,000 tons of carcinogenic cadmium waste from Tak went missing, concerns are growing that loopholes in Thailand’s hazardous waste controls could be fatal.

Loopholes, more like sink-holes.