On 9 July 2021, Mr. Athapol Charoenshunsa, Director General of Pollution Control Department (PCD), revealed the monitoring of air quality situation at 12.00 a.m. in Samut Prakan Province, Bangkok, and the area away from the fire at Mingty Chemical Co., Ltd., a radius of 1 – 20 kilometres. The overall air quality values were found in line with standard criteria in every area and in the level which did not affect human health. People could do activities as usual. However, PCD has continually monitored air quality in the area of 1 kilometre radius from the fire scene and would periodically report to public later. The real-time air quality report could be followed via Air4thai website and application. The detail information could be follow at www.tmd.go.th website.
Mr. Athapol said that PCD team and the Royal Thai Army Chemical Department’s staffs have still been on duty to watch out situation in the area continually both the investigation of styrene and formaldehyde residual concentration and the monitoring of residual pollution in the atmosphere. Moreover, there have been related officers and experts on chemicals which have jointly evaluated and established the guideline to control further chemical fires. The latest management has been divided into 2 parts namely 1) management of residual chemicals in fire scene and nearby areas, the other chemicals would be used to stabilise them to non-fuel residual. 2) Management of chemicals in storage tanks, it would be planned in accordance with experts’ advices later. In terms of allowing people to return to their residences from the assessment of related agencies, the residents who lived within a radius of 2-5 kilometres from the accident scene were allowed. While the residents who lived within a radius of 1 kilometre from the accident scene between Soi 19-25 of West King Kaew Road, were not allowed to return to their residences because it was the control area. Thus, people were requested to follow the Province’s announcement periodically.
However, KO Health Company has brought 100 kilogram-microorganism enzyme to join supporting the mission on eliminating odor from fire and chemicals at Mingty Chemical Co., Ltd., which Mr. Aweera Pakkamart, Director of Regional Environmental Office 13 (Chonburi) was the recipient. The innovation of mixing microorganism enzyme in 10,000 litres of water was brought to spray in the flooded basin areas where chemical contaminants were expected. The mentioned microorganism, acknowledged by World Health Organization with high security, harmless to humans, plants and animals, could eliminate toxic substance and chemical odor. Moreover, it was found that the varied toxic substance and chemical odor was obviously eliminated after spraying the mentioned microorganism. The flooded water became clearer from the original dark color as well, Mr. Athapol said.
