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Greenpeace has dropped off six containers of polluted sediment collected from a canal in Samut Prakan in front of the Pollution Control Department in Bangkok to draw attention to the sorry state of the city's waterways. The group is demanding that the department take action to clean up the waterways in Samut Prakan and bring the polluters to account. "We have tested [the sediment] and found an excessive amount of toxic chemicals," Greenpeace campaigner Ply Pirom said yesterday at the PCD offices on Phahon Yothin Road.

The group collected water and sediment samples from three waterways in Samut Prakan earlier this year. The test results, released last month, showed the water had been contaminated with toxic substances. The waterways - Samrong, Bang Nangkreng and Bang Plakod - are located near textile plants and flow into the lower Chao Phraya River. The hazardous substances included nonylphenols and the carcinogen 2-naphthylamine. The samples also contained an unsafe amount of heavy metals.

"So far, we have not seen any action from the agency to deal with the problem," he said. Apart from the cleaning up of the waterways, Mr Ply called on the PCD to set up a pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) system, which would collect and disseminate information about the types and amounts of chemicals used and disposed of by industrial operators. The system would put pressure on industrial operators to reduce their use of toxic chemicals, he said.

The PCD also should draw up an action plan to eliminate all discharges of hazardous substances and compile a list of toxic substances that should be banned. Department deputy director-general Worasart Apaipong said water pollution in Samut Prakan was caused by waste water discharge from factories and households. He said a PRTRs system would help improve pollution control by enabling authorities to establish the source of pollution.

Writer: Apinya Wipatayotin
Photo: THITI WANNAMONTHA