Thai Rainwater no longer safe to drink
Rainwater ‘no longer safe to drink’
Rainwater in Thailand is no longer safe for consumption, especially in the coastal provinces in the East, due to rising level of acidity caused by toxins from factories and traffic smog.
Citing a study sponsored by the Department of Pollution Control, a Kasetsart University lecturer said the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere had also risen, resulting in a change in the pattern and duration of the rainy season.
Asst Prof Suntharee Khunthong, also from Kasetsart University, said rainwater in Chiang Mai was often contaminated by dust particles from forest fires, while rainwater in Ayutthaya was more alkaline due to the many cement plants based there.
Wijarn Simachaya, a senior DPC official, said the level of acidity in rainwater in China was the highest among 11 Asian countries due mainly to massive coal mining operations. He added that the DPC sponsored research was conducted in five provinces in Thailand to further inspect the quality of rainwater.
