People affected by a gold mine in Phichit are demanding Mahidol University reveal blood test results that appear to favour the mine operator.
The mines are massive operations, with extensive Australian investment. The company says mines like this one along the Pichit-Phitsanulok-Phetchaburn border are safe for employees; activists don't believe that. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)
A group, led by local leader Suekanya Theerachatdamrong, will meet the university's rector at Salaya campus Tuesday. It is also urging the university's management to look into the case to see if there is any conflict of interest.
They made the move after Akara Resources Plc, the operator of the gold mine, claimed blood tests on its workers show no one has excessive levels of dangerous metals in their blood.
Ms Suekanya said the villagers have never seen anyone from Mahidol University collecting blood samples from the people living in the area.
If the test results by Mahidol are inaccurate, people could consume water and produce in the area without being careful enough, she said.
The company carried out its own blood tests on 598 of the company's workers, and Pakorn Sukhum, the company's chief executive officer, said the results put it in the clear.
The result of its tests are at odds with those conducted by the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) in November last year which found over half of the 730 villagers living near the mine have high levels of arsenic and manganese in their blood.
The CIFS worked with Rangsit University when it collected blood samples from villagers for testing, while Akara Resources joined hands with Mahidol University when it tested workers' blood.
"None of the blood samples collected from the gold mine workers, who live and work closer to the mine than the villagers in the CIFS tests, contained toxic metal levels that exceed safety levels," said Mr Pakorn.
The workers live in a wide area covering parts of Phichit, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun.
Mr Pakorn said the CIFS should disclose the results of its tests because the firm has yet to see the detailed findings.
The high levels of toxic metals found in the villagers' blood and urine by the CIFS probably have nothing to do with the gold mine, he said.
It could be related to their lifestyles including their diet and their use of chemicals in vegetable growing or in rice farming.
Mr Pakorn said the mine maintains international standards in handling mineral waste and has invested more than one billion baht in a system to prevent toxic chemicals from leaking from the mine.