Patrapong, Chiang Mai MP from the People’s Party, warns of arsenic and lead contamination in rice from areas irrigated by the Kok and Sai Rivers after some samples were found to exceed safety standards. He urges the government to promptly inspect individual plots before the rice reaches the market to prevent risks.
On 23 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Patrapong Leelaphat, Chiang Mai MP for District 8 from the People’s Party and chair of the Commission on Disaster Prevention and Relief, revealed the situation regarding arsenic and lead contamination in rice and rice husks from plantations using water from the Kok and Sai Rivers. He stated that some test results showed contamination beyond permissible limits, reflecting risks to consumer safety, especially since these samples came from the last planting season between March and May.
“These are the test results from last season’s rice. The results have only just come out, but by now, this rice is already in people’s kitchens. This is a government failure that leaves us no way to get answers,” he said.
Patrapong explained that cross-border pollution from mining activities in neighboring countries has been ongoing for a long time. Although civil society has urged the government to act and the issue has been debated in parliament, the government still lacks adequate measures. Meanwhile, tests of irrigation water, soil, and rice products are beginning to reveal linked risks throughout the food production chain.
He stated that he had previously proposed the government quickly establish a monitoring system for plantations using contaminated water, improve soil quality before planting, treat water at the source before agricultural use, support farmers in switching to crops suitable for the conditions, and implement compensation measures for affected farmers. However, these proposals have yet to be seriously implemented.
The test data cited by Patrapong showed that water from the Sai River contained arsenic at 28 times the safe level and lead at over 5 times. Soil tests on 20 plantation plots found 11 with arsenic levels exceeding standards. Additionally, tests on rice and rice husks revealed arsenic and lead contamination above safe limits in some samples.
Patrapong noted that one cause of testing delays was insufficient budget allocation to relevant agencies, forcing them to reallocate funds from other projects and wait until those projects completed before testing rice from risky areas. This has delayed safety assessments beyond what is necessary to protect the public.
“Right now, the risk falls on the public. We have no way to know if the rice in our kitchens is truly safe. Will our families be unlucky and consume rice contaminated with lead above safety limits from the Kok River area, which can harm our children’s brains? Or hit the jackpot with rice husks showing extremely high arsenic levels, indicating the rice absorbed a lot of arsenic? Rice from such plots should be tested before entering the market—but no such system exists.”
Patrapong called on the government to allocate emergency funding to conduct inspections plot by plot before products reach the market, separate contaminated products from the supply chain, and provide appropriate compensation measures for affected farmers to protect both consumers and producers.
He added that after the harvest season, the government should utilize risk area maps developed by the Land Development Department, district and provincial agricultural agencies, and the Subcommittee on Transboundary Water Pollution, which includes Associate Professor Dr. Thanapon Phenrat, to assess and implement suitable remediation measures for each area. This includes soil improvement and support for switching crops, enabling farmers to continue their livelihoods safely.
“Farmers are not the cause; they are the first victims—using toxic water for rice cultivation and eating the rice they grow daily. Most rice does not come from risky plots. We should not generalize or stop buying rice from any area. The plot-by-plot inspections I am calling for are not only to protect consumers but also to protect farmers. Plots that meet standards will receive certification to sell at fair prices, while those that do not must receive full compensation. Farmers should not bear the burden in place of the state.”
Patrapong concluded by addressing the government: “If you care about the people, please do your job. But if you don’t know how, don’t hesitate to ask for help.”