Map Ta Phut to test for noxious emissions
Factories on the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate have agreed to test factory emissions for volatile organic compounds, according to the manufacturing park's office.
The office said it would agree to testing by an accepted international authority. Estate-office director Peravatana Rungraungsri said factories wanted their emissions tested by an acceptable entity. If limits are exceeded the factories will buy "advanced technologies to control and degrade pollution from their plants immediately", he said. He admitted environmental campaigner Greenpeace had warned the estate about unacceptable levels of volatile organic compounds in March last year. "From that moment we and the factories drew up both short- and long-term plans to control and degrade pollution emissions at each plant. We have been taking action since the middle of last year," he said. The estate office appointed a committee to oversee pollution problems, he added. The short-term approach involves inspections of each factory and a report to the committee. Over the long term, the estate will install technologies to manage emission levels. The Pollution Control Department told the estate levels of volatile organic compounds had "dropped considerably" and did not exceed limits, Peravatana said. "I have no idea why it has become a hot issue, but I can say every operator here is seriously concerned about the environment. Let those who accuse us of destroying the environment tell us what we can do to end this problem," he said. The government may declare Map Ta Phut a pollution-control zone. Peravatana said the move needed to be considered carefully because it would "badly damage investors' confidence". The estate office has engaged SGS (Thailand) to test volatile organic compound emissions over the next two weeks. SGS sales and marketing manager Supamit Jatunponkongchai said it would use "canister" technology to test for more than 50 volatile organic compounds. Government agencies have been unable to properly test the estate for emissions because of staff shortages, Supamit asserted. He said his company tested to international standards. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, volatile organic compounds are "emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids and include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Some can cause cancer".
Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul The Nation
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