Oil spill: PCD delays disclosure of results on Samet water

[webfact]

OIL SPILL
PCD delays disclosure of results on Samet water
PONGPHON SARNSAMAK
THE NATION



Unsafe TPH levels in Ao Noi Na found

BANGKOK: -- The Pollution Control Department (PCD) has postponed a press conference at which it was to disclose the results of the second test of contaminated seawater around Koh Samet caused by the oil spill, saying the results have not yet been handed to the department.

Meanwhile, the results of another test conducted by the Marine and Coastal Resources Department show that the concentration levels of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) in Koh Samet's Ao Noi Na was 1.05 microgram per litre which exceed accepted standards of 0.5 microgram per litre. The samples of sea water were collected between August 4 and 6.

The PCD's Public Relations division said no new date for the press conference has been scheduled.

Before attending a meeting of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry's committee monitoring the recovery from the oil spill affecting Koh Samet's Ao Phrao coastline, department director general Wichien Jungrungruang told The Nation that the press conference announcing the results would be held yesterday afternoon.

But the ministry's permanent secretary, Chote Trachu, said it was unlikely the PCD press conference would go ahead as the department was still waiting for the test results from the private laboratory hired to carry out the tests.

Wichien could not be reached via phone to confirm the department's decision to postpone the press conference; however, on Monday he insisted that the results of the second test would be disclosed yesterday as scheduled.

Chote insisted that he had no orders to forbid the ministry's top executives from disclosing information to members of the public about the ministry's attempts to clean up the oil spill.

On Monday, Wichien revealed during a press conference that the concentration levels of mercury in seawater samples collected on August 3 exceeded the acceptable level of 0.1 micrograms per litre.

High mercury levels

The levels of mercury at Ao Phrao, on the west side of the island, and at Ao Tub Tim, on the east side, were recorded at 2.9 micrograms per litre and 0.25 microgram per litre, respectively.

Wichien also warned visitors not to swim in the two areas.

One day after the announcement of the results of the first test, Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi heavily criticised Wichien for the delay in revealing the results of the second test, saying Wichien had created panic among members of the public as the results were not based on real-time developments.

Wichien apologised for the delay and said he would endeavour to inform members of the public about developments every two days.

The private laboratory hired by the department said it would take a week to two weeks to run the tests. To date, the oil spill has cost the department about Bt3 million.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Vichet Kasemthongsri, a former PTT chairman, said he would hold a press conference to disclose the test results tomorrow on August 17.

-- The Nation 2013-08-16

[clockman]

Another attempted cover up!

[tomross46]

Is this a case of, the independent test lab was waiting for the government to tell then what they wanted. How can you expect the lab to give you results, if they do not what you want. Do you want good test data, or bad test data, and how much do you want to pay.

[Katipo]

It doesn't take long to test some water, especially in an urgent case like this. I smell a over up.

Notice how they postponed the Mercury test results until AFTER the long weekend.

[slipperylobster]

This is definitely not reassuring for a guy like me, who was looking forward to possibly moving to that area (primarily for the beach). Still looking at Ban Chang area..... any suggestions?

[webfact]

ENVIRONMENT
Contamination in and around Samet cause for concern
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The results of the second test of contaminated seawater around Koh Samet caused by the oil spill have shown that the level of the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) is 200 times over the accepted standard, an informed source said Friday.

Mercury levels remain high and the contamination has spread to other parts of the island.

According to the source, the Pollution Control Department collected seawater samples on August 8 to study the level of contamination by hazardous substances caused by the oil spill.

The result shows that as of August 8, the level of TPH was 200 times higher than the accepted standard of 0.5 microgram per litre.

Meanwhile, the level of mercury was measured at about 2-4 times higher than the standard of 0.1 microgram per litre. Moreover, the contamination of mercury has been detected in seawater surrounding Koh Samet.

On Tuesday, PCD revealed that the concentration levels of mercury in seawater samples collected on August 3 exceeded the acceptable level of 0.1 micrograms per litre.

The levels of mercury at Ao Phrao, on the west side of the island, and at Ao Tub Tim, on the east side, were recorded at 2.9 micrograms per litre and 0.25 microgram per litre, respectively.

Meanwhile, the results of another test conducted by the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, released on August 13, showed that the concentration levels of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) in Koh Samet’s Ao Noi Na was 1.05 microgram per litre, which exceeds accepted standards of 0.5 microgram per litre. The samples of seawater were collected between August 4 and 6.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Vichet Kasemthongsri yesterday instructed PCD officials to collect further samples of seawater from around the island for testing. He expects to release the test results on August 17.


-- The Nation 2013-08-16

[Thai at Heart]

Plodprasop must be so happy he took a dip.

[thaimat]

No snide ness meant, you may want to look elsewhere.

This is definitely not reassuring for a guy like me, who was looking forward to possibly moving to that area (primarily for the beach). Still looking at Ban Chang area..... any suggestions?

[thaimat]

So far they've only spent 1 million baht? Wow, they're certainly serious about this.

[MaxLee]

So far they've only spent 1 million baht? Wow, they're certainly serious about this.

1 million kachillian Baht for Surface only cleaning

[jaffacake32]

So glad I spent the last 2 weeks swimming at tub tim beach now!

[chickenslegs]

This is definitely not reassuring for a guy like me, who was looking forward to possibly moving to that area (primarily for the beach). Still looking at Ban Chang area..... any suggestions?

Chiang Mai ?

[Postmaster]

Chickenslegs Why would you recomend Chiang Mai where there's no sea air. A beautiful but INLAND city ok for a week but that's it !

[siampolee]

Well we shall no doubt see at the press conference many bottles of water still sealed all filled from somewhere far away from the disaster area.

That is to my mind evidence enough that the local water is polluted.

Not to difficult to run a batch of the local seawater through a desalinization plant for the ''experts'" to drink from at the press conference thus proving to all and sundry that all is indeed well in the area concerned and there is no trace at all of pollution.

However I am of the mind that ''pigs will fly'' before such measures as outlined above are taken.

Truth and honesty are indeed extinct species in the government departments here in Thailand