Eight workers at a melting factory in Samut Sakhon state, where copper spend was first discovered next week, have been found to have had abnormal cadmium levels, as authorities continue to check for contamination in two provinces.
Dr. Kitti Kanpirom, an inspector-general for the Public Health Ministry, reported on Monday that health officials had tested 19 workers at the J &, B Metal Co. shop in tambon Bang Nam Jued in Muang city.
Eight of them were found to have illegal levels of copper, and they have now fallen ill, he said. None of the 11 other workers, according to Dr. Kitti, had any signs of copper poisoning, despite having it in their systems.
On Monday, all 19 were taken to Samut Sakhon Hospital for additional evaluation and care.
Additionally, officials were instructed to collect water and food samples close to the stock to check for copper contamination.
According to Dr. Opas Kankawinpong, the permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, samples of blood and urine were also taken from 20 residents who reside three kilometers away from the warehouse in Chon Buri’s Ban Bueng city.
One young child had serious vomiting, he said. In a fortnight, Dr. Opas predicted that the results of tests on area wastewater samples may be made public.
Dr Woraya Lueang- on, a condition power chairman in Chon Buri, said copper contamination of the environment may trigger acute and chronic headaches, exhaustion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and irritation of the nose, throat and windpipe.
Health issues have grown in response to the recent discovery of 8, 474 kilograms of copper waste at businesses and warehouses in Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri.
According to the Pollution Control Department, the second 3, 040 kilograms were found at the refining factory in tambon Bang Nam Jued of Samut Sakhon’s Muang area last Thursday.
A more 4, 400 were discovered next Friday at a warehouse in Chon Buri’s Ban Bueng district’s Chon Buri, tambon Khlong Kieo.
On Saturday, 1, 034 kilograms were discovered at a warehouse in tambon Bang Nam Jued of Samut Sakhon’s Muang area.
Officials believed they were a part of the 13, 832 tons of illegally sold copper tailings from a waste in Tak state. They said 5, 358 kilos had yet to be tracked down.
Thus far, two offenders have been charged. One owner of the unregulated warehouse in Chon Buri is Chinese, and the other is a Japanese national who runs the facility where 1, 034 tons of cadmium waste were discovered. The Chinese believe claimed he received a commission from the Chinese person who paid about 41.2 million ringgit for the sale of 5, 000 tonnes of copper waste.