Map Ta Phut now a 'cancer cluster zone'
In a mocking attack on state refusals to designate Map Ta Phut an area of concern, residents yesterday named it a "cancer cluster zone" and Greenpeace labelled it a "toxic sacrifice zone".
The government's refusal to declare a pollution-control zone has angered residents and environmental protesters.The National Environment Board (NEB) elected not to name the area a control zone but instead appointed committees to study the relationship between a spike in cancer deaths and pollution from surrounding industrial estates. Eastern People's Network coordinator Suthi Atchasai said residents were "deeply disappointed" at the NEB. "If you don't declare the industrial estates pollution-control zones we will declare our communities cancer cluster zones," he said. Suthi said naming Map Ta Phut communities "cancer cluster zones" was apt - cancer rates among villagers are rising fast. "It was rare to see in the past but now we hear about cancer deaths all the time," 67-year-old Noi Jaitang explained. Noi lives in Krok Yai Cha community - one of 25 villages surrounding the Map Ta Phut industrial zone. He has lost count of how many friends and neighbours have succumbed to cancer. "Last week one was cremated, two days ago another man died," he said. Late last year Noi started collecting death certificates of cancer victims in the area, as well those of people dying from respiratory problems. Rayong Provincial Public Health Office data reveals cancer deaths are on the rise. Yesterday, Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Healthy Public Policy Foundation declared Map Ta Phut a "toxic sacrifice zone". Pennapa Hongthong The Nation MAP TA PHUT, RAYONG
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