Toxic fears grip Rayong locals

News > Local News

Panel to probe effects of blast as death toll hits 12

Published: 6 May 2012 at 23.22
Online news: Local News

RAYONG: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has set up a tripartite committee to examine possible toxic contamination in the Map Ta Phut area following the chemical explosion at a petrochemical factory as the death toll rose to 12.

Ms Yingluck Sunday visited workers injured in the incident before going to Map Ta Phut industrial estate where she chaired a meeting of state agencies to discuss the blast at the Bangkok Synthetics Co (BST) factory on Saturday afternoon.

The prime minister, who was accompanied by Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidith and Industry Minister Pongsvas Svasti, ordered the formation of a tripartite committee to look for toxic residues in the environment.

The committee consists of experts from the Industry Ministry, the Pollution Control Department and representatives of local communities.

The move followed mounting fears among residents and factory workers over possible contamination by hazardous substances in the air and water as a result of the blast.

Deputy Public Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon Sunday said 12 people were killed and 129 wounded in the accident. Nine were killed in the explosion at the BST factory; the other three died at hospital.

Sunday, 27 of the wounded were receiving treatment at Rayong, Map Ta Phut, Bangkok-Rayong and Queen Sirikit hospitals, Mr Surawit said.

Local hospitals were Sunday crowded with relatives and friends of those killed to identify and claim the bodies of their loved ones.

However, some relatives were told by hospital staff that they could not pick up the corpses, as they would be sent to Bangkok for post-mortem examinations.

Some factory workers living near the plant brought their family members to the hospital for medical check ups. (Story continues after the photos)

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daiwill60
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Discussion 13 : 08 May 2012 at 00.2513
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Bit of underplay on the hazards associated with Toluene, ok it is not carinogenic but all the same not very nice :
Toluene should not be inhaled due to its health effects. Low to moderate levels can cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, drunken-type actions, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and hearing and color vision loss. These symptoms usually disappear when exposure is stopped. Inhaling high levels of toluene in a short time may cause light-headedness, nausea, or sleepiness. It can also cause unconsciousness, and even death.[15][16]

Toluene is, however, much less toxic than benzene, and has, as a consequence, largely replaced it as an aromatic solvent in chemical preparation. For example, benzene is a known carcinogen, whereas toluene has very little carcinogenic potential.[17]
(Wickepedia)
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englishbob
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Discussion 12 : 07 May 2012 at 20.0512
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Disc10 Goodheart - The Dems haven't made this into a political football (although you have). They may not need a miricle [sic] to get elected... They could sit back and watch Peua Thai screw everything up and abandon their grass roots support. Just as they have for the past 9 months.

Commiserations to the families of those killed and injured in the accident.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 11 : 07 May 2012 at 18.5011
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Let's rather have an article on the connections between political favours from various governments towards environmental responsibility policy when developing these industrial parks, plus the corruption involved of possible negligence in health and safety inspections.
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goodheart
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Discussion 10 : 07 May 2012 at 17.0810
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I notice the Dems are quiet about this one.Not too long ago there was contamination in Rayong when they were in govmt.What protections did they come up with to stop this happening again?Probably nothing as they spend all their time trying to get exsisting govmt out so they can get appointed again because it would need a miricle for them to be elected.
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med142
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Discussion 9 : 07 May 2012 at 13.169
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This has nothing to do with the government in any way at all. It is a Health and safety issue.
It is not a security issue either as is stated in the article unless sabotageis suspected or a bomb planted.
Chemical plant explosions are not very common they are either due to a fault in the equipment,unsupervised trainees,manufacturing processes not being monitored etc. Their are many causal factors which could have caused the explosion.
My condolences to the families who have lost loved ones.
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samesame
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Discussion 8 : 07 May 2012 at 12.088
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The world should just hope this country doesnt build any nuclear power stations
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johninbkk
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Discussion 7 : 07 May 2012 at 11.227
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hawaiiman 5 - Agreed. As they say, "those who you do not like can never do right."
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banmebkk
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Discussion 6 : 07 May 2012 at 08.416
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Although nice for YS to stop by and visited the injured, is it really necessary for a PM to sit in on a factory accident like this? Doesn't she have more important things to tend to? There is a good reason why we have different ministries to send in an authority to take care of things regarding matters like this.
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hawaiiman
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Discussion 5 : 07 May 2012 at 08.145
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D-3 is there a point? Obviously, if she didn't go she'd be criticized for not caring. Now if the gov helps those affected it will be "populist vote buying" and if they don't, it will be " betrayal of those who elected her". Criticizing the gov for matters of substance would be more interesting than just bashing them at every turn. Offering positive suggestions of alternative policies would be...refreshing.
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Victor
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Discussion 4 : 07 May 2012 at 07.524
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Safety has never been a priority in this country. All safety-related agencies, committees, and commissions set up by the government have no real role to carry out any meaningful purpose except to collect statistic and some PR works once in a while.
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