Rare Earth Mining in Myanmar Contaminates Thai Rivers and Food Supply with Arsenic and Heavy Metals
Rare earth mining operations in Myanmar's Shan state are releasing arsenic and heavy metals into tributaries that feed the Mekong River, contaminating rice paddies and fish in northern Thailand. The pollution has been detected in soil, water, and crops across the region, with arsenic levels in some areas exceeding safety thresholds by up to nine times. The contamination poses long-term health risks to millions of people in the Lower Mekong basin who depend on the river system for food and water.
Rare earth mining operations in Myanmar's Shan state are releasing arsenic and heavy metals into the Kok, Sai, and Ruak rivers—tributaries that feed the Mekong River—creating a transnational pollution crisis affecting Thailand's agricultural production. Government agencies have detected elevated arsenic levels in soil, water, and crops across northern Thailand, with some sediment samples from the Mekong showing arsenic concentrations at 296 mg/kg, nine times the 33 mg/kg safety threshold. Local farmers like 71-year-old Thongkham Inprom report arsenic accumulation in their bodies despite rice meeting official safety limits, raising concerns about long-term bioaccumulation and health effects including cancer. Deformed fish with lesions have also appeared in northern Thai rivers, suggesting that heavy metal exposure may be weakening fish immune systems. The pollution affects more than 65 million people living in the Lower Mekong basin, making this a significant regional public health and food security issue.
What different sources said
- CNACenter
How rare earth mining in Myanmar threatens Thailand’s rice and fish
- Channel NewsAsiaCenter
How rare earth mining in Myanmar threatens Thailand’s rice and fish
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