Rainwater 'no longer safe to drink'

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 pat¬tern 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 rain¬water 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 min¬ing operations. He added that the DPCsponsored research was conducted in five provinces in Thailand to further inspect the quality of rainwater.