Samet: Tests conducted on seafood from areas near oil spill

[webfact]

SAMET
Tests conducted on seafood from areas near oil spill
The Nation



Food 'safe' so far urine samples taken from volunteers doing cleanup on Samet.

RAYONG: -- A PUBLIC Health Ministry inspection of seafood collected from areas near Ban Phe on the coast in Rayong - near sites hit by a crude oil spill in the Gulf - has found no mercury or heavy metal in excess of safe levels.

Tests had been done on urine samples from 252 of 1,522 people exposed to oil during the ongoing cleanup on Ao Phrao beach on Koh Samet, but no irregularities had been found, Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong said yesterday.

Eight samples of green mussel and fish were collected from markets in the district and nearby tambon Klaeng. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and mercury, which are harmful to human health, were not found in the |samples.

Tests for three other toxic heavy metals - arsenic, lead and cadmium - were being done, with results expected to be known next week, Pradit said.

People who gave urine samples include volunteer cleaners, plus members of the media, executives from relevant agencies who visited Ao Phrao or Koh Samet.

They had been registered for follow-up tests over the next five years, and annual examination, he said.

The ministry was monitoring the health of local people to give them physical and psychological care, if needed, the minister said, as well as educating them on how to choose safe seafood and drinking water.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is conducting an inspection of seven aspects of the coastal ecosystem - oceanography, coastal ecology, coral reefs, marine seagrass, mangroves, rare marine life and seabirds - to determine if it has been affected by the spill, and by how much, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Vichet Kasemthongsri said.

Results from this study would decide how much environmental damage has been done, if any, as that would be used for reference in any future lawsuits demanding compensation, he said.

The department is working on cleaning the beach at Ao Phrao and dealing with oil in the sea and near Koh Samet, he said.

Existing infrastructure, including waste-water treatment operations and landscaping on the island - famous among tourists - would be re-organised.

Vichet spoke after inspecting Ao Phrao yesterday, as well as Lam Ya-Koh Samet National Park off Rayong. Meanwhile, he said departmental officials were also giving advice on how to conduct a further recovery and treat toxic leaks to PTT Global Chemical, which owns the pipeline that was the cause of the leak.


-- The Nation 2013-08-05

[retell]

very scientific hahahaha gotta love the way they do that

[NongKhaiKid]

The real scientific tests, if they can be trusted, cannot be a one off and will have to continue for a long time but I'm sure there will be a rush to pronounce a clean bill of health.

[Songhua]

Rice with that, sir?

[doremifasol]

So safe that after eating it once they had been registered for follow-up tests

over the next five years!

[Thai at Heart]

Are they going to test for e coli?

[kurnell]

I'm sure the 2 headed fish was delicious

[chooka]

Here we go again, the same as the rice. There is not contamination, ok there may be a little contamination but we washed it. OK so it was contaminated but we smelt it and it is clean now.

[chooka]

Yum, this Australian seafood is really good. Just tell the masses we are eating Thai and the problem is solved.

[NongKhaiKid]

The real scientific tests, if they can be trusted, cannot be a one off and will have to continue for a long time but I'm sure there will be a rush to pronounce a clean bill of health.

Hoisted by my own petard as the media are reporting divers have found no damage to the eco system and no dead marine life. Maybe the word " yet " should be included although " impossible " may be more appropriate.

Considering the amount of news footage we see from spills elsewhere there is one thing we are unlikely to see and that's shots of dead or oil covered birds and dead fish.

[greg71]

This reminds me when Thaksin ate Kfc years ago to show the public that chickens were safe to eat during the bird flu epedemic.Im sure this wasnt seafood from the sea of Samet island anyway

[pb1936]

Far to soon to test the shell fish and anyway there needs to be a full scientific test by experts. Their objective however is only to declare the food as safe.

Samples need to be collected from the sea, not from shops.

[Thait Spot]

What did they do with all that urine?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[MaxLee]

Tests conducted on seafood from areas near oil spill

Food 'safe' so far urine samples taken from volunteers doing cleanup on Samet.

volunteers, that were corrupted and forced by a gun behind their backs, eating the poisend crap for the sake of International image to save face. I f those volunteers die on account of poisoning, nobody cares

[ABCer]

The tests for food contamination should be conducted about 2 months from now.

The tests must search for contaminants associated with this particular oil.

Subjected to tests must be sea food and seaweeds and algae.

The guests shown at the moment could be tested for HIV, Wassermann, Gonorrhea or Ebola (if they recently visited African continent).

But urine tests are insufficient. Need also blood tests.

Visual examination shows no loss of appetite. Uniformed steward looks nice.

[Payboy]

Tests had been done on urine samples from 252 of 1,522 people exposed to oil during the ongoing cleanup on Ao Phrao beach on Koh Samet, but no irregularities had been found, Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong said yesterday.

If they found oil in anyones piss, would they be taken right away to replace a few aging PTT pumps.

[Soupdragon]

Lets hope they don't do IQ tests on the seafood. Would be embarrassing for the PTT top brass to be outsmarted by a crab

[HoudiniXLogic]

I'd trust a high school science class way before I trust a government health minister.

[falang07]

>Food 'safe' so far urine samples taken from volunteers doing cleanup on Samet.<

So they try to detect mercury which stays in the body and is not eliminated from body by performing urine tests? Great.

[travelman]

All Thai Govt + controlled media drama.

[slapout]

We must give credit when due. The present government has given a whole new meaning to 'taste test' and any worry to the public about the possible contanimation of food sources in Thailand. We have covered ocean (seafood), land (rice), dairy products (milk, powered/fresh), public vendors (noodleshops), etc. Now that we have proved said items eatable, we will look into contanimation causes after more pressing issues are taken care of. We have a committe of 1000 looking into the rumored problems, but do not expect these rumors to be traced nor verified.

[Thai at Heart]

I like the brown pool of liquid on the guy on the right's plate.

Presumably soi sauce, but someone who's good at photoshop could have a ball with that.

[Bluespunk]

How long does it take before contaminants actually enter the food chain? Would they be detectable after a week?

[Bluespunk]

"The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is conducting an inspection of seven aspects of the coastal ecosystem - oceanography, coastal ecology, coral reefs, marine seagrass, mangroves, rare marine life and seabirds - to determine if it has been affected by the spill, and by how much, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Vichet Kasemthongsri said.

Results from this study would decide how much environmental damage has been done, if any, as that would be used for reference in any future lawsuits demanding compensation, he said."

And so the cover up begins

[Bellweather]

The real scientific tests, if they can be trusted, cannot be a one off and will have to continue for a long time but I'm sure there will be a rush to pronounce a clean bill of health.

Hoisted by my own petard as the media are reporting divers have found no damage to the eco system and no dead marine life. Maybe the word " yet " should be included although " impossible " may be more appropriate.

Considering the amount of news footage we see from spills elsewhere there is one thing we are unlikely to see and that's shots of dead or oil covered birds and dead fish.

My Thai isn't good to bother with Thai television news but for those you do what sort of footage has and is being shown from the scene ?

I'l bet it's careful edited on order from above.

[deecee10]

The photo is absolutely hilarious.

What's on the seafood menu?

Abalone and rice or baloney and rice.

More of the latter, methinks.

[MaxLee]

Clean the surface ONLY and screw the rest,...

wax (fish) on. wax off (fish), and eat, and DIE(arrhea)!!!!

Edited August 5, 2013 by MaxLee

[catweazle]

How long does it take before contaminants actually enter the food chain? Would they be detectable after a week?

Found this here: http://www.ceoe.udel.edu/oilspill/seafood.html perhaps it helps.

The photo is absolutely hilarious as is the whole seafood testing story. Feels like straight out of a Monthy Python movie - one should do a Thai version on this one, like "Monty Python and the oily Crab"

[Lobo4819]

"People who gave urine samples include volunteer cleaners, plus members of the media, executives from relevant agencies who visited Ao Phrao or Koh Samet."

Numbers, please. How many volunteers? Probably many more members of the media and executives from relevant agencies than those who have been wearing the blackened Tyvek suits the past week.

Anyone offered Chalerm a urine test recently?

[thaimat]

Too darn funny, no comment required