Environmental Issues: Toxic Contamination – A Silent Killer, Gradual Death
The environmental problem of toxic contamination reflects the tangible and real impacts already occurring, as seen in the case of “Vietnamese Durian” contaminated with cadmium.
Professor Sonthi Kochawat, an expert in environmental and health issues from the Environmental Scholars Association, stated that China has returned 30 shipments of durians from Vietnam, citing the discovery of heavy metal cadmium in the durian flesh exceeding the standard limits.
The Vietnamese plant protection department’s officials have yet to clearly identify the source of the cadmium contamination. However, it is likely that the contamination originated from polluted soil, water, or emissions from nearby factories, or possibly from contaminated water used to wash the produce after harvesting.
As of June 12, 2024, China has ordered a suspension of durian imports from 15 packaging factories and 18 fruit farms in Vietnam.
This situation highlights that planting durian near industrial areas may lead to heavy metal contamination. Therefore, it is recommended that durian orchards and fruit farms be located at least 3 kilometers away from industrial areas, and that the water used must be free from contamination or runoff from industrial waste.
Currently, China is the largest market for Vietnamese durian exports. The first shipment of Vietnamese durian was sent to China in September 2022.
In 2023, China imported 493,000 tons of Vietnamese durians, a 1,107% increase compared to 2022, with a value exceeding 2.1 billion USD, a 1,036% increase. The market share of Vietnamese durian in China grew from 5% in 2022 to 34.6% in 2023.
The average export value of Vietnamese durian to China was 4,332.2 USD per ton.
If China allows frozen durian imports from Vietnam this year, the export value of durian from Vietnam to China is expected to reach between 3-3.5 billion USD.
Looking at Vietnam, Thailand must also be cautious and prepare to handle such risks proactively. Just take the recent news, such as the illegal transportation of cadmium and zinc waste from Tak Province to Samut Sakhon, or the explosions and fires from chemical incidents at ice factories, chemical warehouses in Rayong, and chemical leakage in Rama 2.
Additionally, the recent case in Sam Khok, Pathum Thani, where 11 barrels of chemicals were abandoned near a lake for over 2 years, has caused concern among villagers who fear chemical leakage could harm nearby residents.
These cases highlight a serious problem—there is negligence in overseeing the importation of chemicals, transferring storage locations, or safely disposing of hazardous chemicals that pose public health risks.
Source: Thai Rath
