THERE WAS AN AMMONIA GAS LEAKAGE FROM AN ICE FACTORY IN KHLONG TOEY YESTERDAY

The Public Health Ministry has coordinated with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Pollution Control Department in measuring the amount of ammonia gas around the leakage area of an ice factory in the Khlong Toey (คลองเตย) District, in order to prevent hazards to the public.

Public Health Ministry Permanent-Secretary Wichai Thienthaworn (วิชัย เทียนถาวร) has commented on the ammonia gas leak from Lee 1991 Co. Ltd., an ice factory in Khlong Toey. The Pollution Control Department and the BMA moved in to the area yesterday to measure the amount of ammonia spread over the radius of 25, 50, and 100 meters around the leakage point, in order to limit public access.

An amount of Ammonia gas measuring more than 50 PPM would be hazardous to health. Initially the air passages would be irritated, as well as the eyes. Inhalation of large quantities would result in swollen air passage lining, running nose, restricted lung capacity, and difficult breathing. Amounts over 300 PPM would cause lung oedema, possibly leading to death.

Meanwhile, Md. Kamjat Rammakul (กำจัด รามกุล), the director of the Bureau of Occupational and Environmental Diseases, said the best protection for the general public in times of chemical leakage was to evacuate the area as soon as possible. He also said that ice factories needed health checks and air passage checks on their employees every year, in order to inspect the working capability of their lungs.

Source: thaisnews.com 2005-8-17

Probably killed all the crickets