Loei villagers have high cyanide and mercury levels

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

More than 400 villagers who live near gold mining areas in Loei's Wang Saphung districts had mercury levels that exceed safety standards, a recent health study showed yesterday.

A study conducted by Loei public health provincial office and Wang Saphung Hospital in June 2010, which assessed blood samples from 474 people living in six villages near gold mining. They were Ban Huay Phuk, Ban Koksathorn, Ban Na Nong Bong, Ban Kaeng Hin, Ban Non Phaphungpattana and Ban Phu Tap Pha.

The blood samples were sent for cyanide contamination tests at Ramathibodi Hospital. They were then sent to the Health Ministry's Occupational Health and Safety Bureau for tests on lead and mercury content.

The study was revealed to the public at a media conference yesterday organised by the National Health Commission.

The study showed that 348 of the 474 people had cyanide in their blood and 84 of these had levels that exceeded safe standards.

Some 414 of the villagers had mercury in their blood and 38 of these had levels over safe standards. One 43yearold woman had mercury 43 times higher than the government's recommended level.

A 6yearold boy also had excessive mercury in his blood.

The report showed the 474 villagers had lead in their blood but it was not over standard levels.

"The hazardous chemicals that tainted in villagers' bodies would affect their health, such as their nervous systems and respiratory systems," Associate Professor Dr Pattaphong Ketsomboon of Khon Kaen University's Faculty of Medicine said.

He explained that cyanide contamination could affect people's brains and heart, and that mercury could cause neurological ailments. Mercury contamination could cause depression and lead to suicide among people who have high levels. Excessive lead would cause failure kidney and anaemia.

Also, pregnant women with high lead levels would be at risk of having a miscarriage, while men faced the risk of developing cancer.

"Related agencies should visit their homes and provide healthcare and protection to them," he said.

Prior to the tests, Cabinet asked the Industry Ministry to suspend the issuing of mining concessions for private firms till it learnt more details about possible impacts on local people's health, plus the environment and economic effects.

Ban Nong Bong villager Suraphan Rujichaiwat, 38, said he was found to have cyanide and mercury contamination in his blood but the amount was not over standard levels.

He said since the gold mine was established near his village, the river that villagers drank from was found to contain several hazardous chemicals, including mercury, cyanide and lead.

"Villagers can no longer use water from the river for consumption. We have to buy water - for at least Bt 500 a month - to drink, instead of using natural water from the river as it is already tainted," he said.

"We now are worried about our health in the future as we have been affected for many years," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-03-02

people also everywhere suffering from respitory related illnesses from those a-holes burning plastic and other toxic waiste does not ring a bell either i guess... air/water/food get more and more contaminated

Might have something to do with fertilizers,insecticides and pesticides used on rubber plantations i would think as most of the plantations in that area are less than 10 years old.

How come no one blamed a farang yet?

The high cynanide and mercury levels will be to do with the gold mining.

Both cyanide and mecury are used for gold extraction.....

mercury is outdated for extraction of gold.

not saying its not to do with the mining.

interesting to know cassava produces cyanide and vaccines have mercury in them.

mercury is outdated for extraction of gold.

For large scale mining...ie South Africa, Aussie etc yes.....but mercury extraction is certainly alive and well in many smaller scale operations in many parts of the world.

The other thing that convinces me of this is the lead reported. Lead is prevelant in a lot of gold bearing rock types.

The cynanide/Mercury/lead combination suggests to me that this many be possibly leaching from the slimes dam into the ground water, assuming of course they have a slimes dam and are not just pumping the slimes stuff straight into a river..

Based on the scant information in this article my money is on the mining operations causing this