Mr. Pinsak Suraswadi Director General of Pollution Control Department (PCD) revealed that landfill site at Dong Sibu, Kai Kham Subdistrict, Mueang District, Amnat Charoen Province was fired in the evening of January 5, 2023 which is the largest landfill site in Amnat Charoen Province in the area of 95 Rai. Mr. Chanas Chatchawanwong, Governor of Amnat Charoen Province ordered to set up the center of controlling the situation to take care of people who suffer. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Environment and Pollution Control Office 12 and the Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment sent staffs and tools to support the monitoring and observation on air pollution problems caused by smoke and water pollution caused by leachate from fire trucks.
The results of the preliminary air quality measurement found that in area of landfill site, the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) value was in the range of 0.4-0.8 ppm. For nearby community areas within 2-3 kilometers, the value was 0.1-0.2 ppm. The hydrogen cyanide (HCN) value was 0.5 ppm. Therefore the provincial officers were coordinated to accelerate control of the accident scene as quickly as possible. However, strong winds would help to dilute the concentration of nitrogen dioxide gas. Moreover the officers gave advice to people nearby the accident area that if they have coughing, difficulty breathing, eye irritation, they should use self-protection equipment. And if there are severe symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately.
(Air quality standards in the general atmosphere, the average nitrogen dioxide standard in 1 hour must not exceed 0.17 ppm. There is not a set of concentration standard for hydrogen cyanide. According to the exposure limit criteria, both substances are still at the level that does not cause health effects.)
Mr. Pinsak said that the landfill fire occurred because the garbage collectors sorted out waste and burned the remains of electrical wires for copper near the landfill. In addition, the strong winds caused a fire to spread to the landfill. Therefore, I would like to emphasize to all parties (garbage collectors, production sorters, local administrative organization, and local agency) must instruct and monitor to not burn garbage, wires waste, electrical appliances waste, and electronic waste to bring valuable materials to sell. Furthermore, entrepreneurs were requested cooperation not to buy valuable materials from incineration, causes air pollution such as PM 2.5, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen cyanide gas, hydrogen chloride gas, phosgene gas, and dioxin as well as may spread into a landfill fire.
In addition, people who burn wires illegally will be punished by several laws, such as Public Health Act, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act, Local Governing Act. Buyer may be guilty of supporting the offense. I would like to ask all parties to cooperate together to prevent and control waste separation to make it correctly and do not cause any impact on people and environment, Mr. Pinsak said.
