PRESS RELEASE:
Officials have revealed that elevated levels of cadmium have been detected in eight workers at the J & B Metal Co smelting factory in Samut Sakhon province, sparking health concerns and prompting further investigations into cadmium exposure in the region. The discovery follows recent findings of improperly stored cadmium waste in both Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri provinces.
Public Health Inspector Dr Kitti Kanpirom reported that out of 19 workers tested at the factory, eight showed unsafe cadmium levels and have since become ill, while the remaining 11 also had cadmium present in their bodies but displayed no symptoms.
All affected individuals were sent to Samut Sakhon Hospital for examination and treatment. The Ministry of Public Health has also initiated the collection of food and water samples near the factory for cadmium testing. Similar tests are being conducted in Chon Buri, where cadmium waste was discovered in a warehouse and surrounding residential areas.
The recent surge in health concerns correlates with the identification of 8,474 tonnes of cadmium waste at various locations, believed to be part of a larger illegal sale of cadmium tailings. Authorities are still searching for the remainder of the waste, which is suspected to total 13,832 tonnes, originally sold from a landfill in Tak province.
Legal actions have been taken against two suspects involved in the illegal storage and sale of cadmium waste, including a Chinese warehouse owner in Chon Buri and a Taiwanese national linked to another warehouse where part of the waste was found.
The preceding is a press release from the Thai Government PR Department.
