CHIANG RAI – On June 16, 2026, government leaders, academics, and citizens gathered at the Provincial City Hall located in Wiang, Chiang Rai. They met to discuss the pressing issues of water safety, aquatic health, and long-term food security.
Governor Chucheep Pongchai and Deputy Governor Prasert Chitpleecheep led this vital public academic forum. The event featured top researchers from Texas Tech University and Naresuan University. They shared new facts about the ongoing health of the Kok and Mekong rivers.
Key Takeaways
- Local tap water and bottled water are strictly tested and completely safe for everyday use.
- Fish sores are due to common natural parasites, not dangerous cancer-causing chemicals.
- Cross-border river pollution is mostly driven by human activities like rare earth metal mining.
The seminar was titled “One Year of Kok-Mekong Rivers: Global Lessons and Real Situations.” It aimed to clear up public fears about toxic water and local food safety in the region. Many residents and journalists attended to hear the direct truth from scientific experts.
Professor Danny D. Relible from Texas Tech University shared new research on the local Devil Catfish. Many people worried that strange sores on these fish were a sign of cancer. However, recent lab tests prove these wounds come from common parasites and bacterial infections.
While the fish do not have cancer, the severe infections show they have weaker immune systems. This decline in health points to shifting environments and damaged aquatic ecosystems. The health of these strong bottom-feeding fish acts as an early warning sign for the river.
Experts also looked at past environmental data from the Department of Mineral Resources. The older data show that the water quality meets all basic safety standards. This proves that current pollution is linked to human activities rather than natural earth changes.
Pollution models reveal that cross-border pollution accounts for about 60 to 75 percent of the problem. This heavy pollution is likely connected to rare earth metal mining rather than gold mining. Leaders are using this critical data to plan better cross-border environmental talks.
Protecting Your Health from Heavy Metals
Dr. Yutthapong Thongpob from Naresuan University discussed the hidden dangers of heavy metals. Elements like arsenic and lead can slowly build up in the human body over time. This buildup usually takes five to ten years before causing serious health problems.
These metals can severely harm the skin, lungs, liver, and the human nervous system. Dr. Yutthapong advises people to watch out for unusual dark spots on their skin. Other warning signs include numb hands, weak muscles, severe nausea, and sharp stomach pain.
Young children, pregnant women, and older adults face the highest health risks from heavy metals. The experts warned that simply boiling river water does not remove these dangerous chemicals. Families must use proper water filters if they rely on natural water sources.
To safely eat rice, people should wash the grains several times before cooking. You can also boil rice in hot water for five minutes and toss the first batch of water. Studies show this simple cooking trick greatly lowers the amount of arsenic in the food.
Safe Swimming and Future Water Monitoring
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanapon Penrat confirmed that standard tap water remains completely safe for daily use. People can drink and cook with tap water without any extra fear or worry. However, anyone using water straight from the natural river must treat it carefully first.
Parents have also been worried about their children swimming in the local Kok River. Risk tests show that most river areas are perfectly safe for playing and swimming. However, some specific spots in the Mekong River do have high sediment pollution.
If swimmers get itchy skin or rashes, it is usually from natural bacteria in the water. These mild skin issues are not caused by sudden heavy metal poisoning. Still, washing off with clean tap water after swimming in the river is always a smart idea.
Moving forward, the research team is building a new website and a quick QR code system. This digital tool will help the public check water quality and fish safety easily. In July, teams will test more pore water to protect the region’s long-term food supply.
When it comes to eating local fish, the latest news is mostly very positive. Over the past year, only one sample of fish meat showed unsafe heavy metal pollution levels. The meat of the fish is safe, but the organs tell a very different story.
Tests show that about 30 percent of fish organs contain heavy metals above the safety limits. Health experts strongly advise everyone to avoid eating the internal organs of fish caught in these areas. Sticking to the meat keeps you safe while supporting the local fishing community.
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