Soil, water, and air are essential factors for the survival of life on Earth, including humans. However, continuous economic and industrial development has led to our environment being contaminated with 'pollution'.
Visible signs of pollution include strange-colored water sources, thick black smoke, or barren land with wilting trees. Yet, some types of 'pollution' may permeate our surroundings in ways we cannot anticipate, such as PM2.5 dust, heavy metals, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause health issues without us realizing it.
"Where does that pollution come from?" is a question that remains a mystery, as Thailand currently lacks a system for data on pollutant release and transfer. Establishing this data requires a mechanism known as the 'PRTR law,' which would compel industrial facilities to disclose pollution information released into the environment, including air, water, and soil, for public scrutiny.
The PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) law mandates that polluters, such as industrial factories, report and disclose information on their environmental pollution.
In the past, the absence of pollution release data and the inability to identify polluters hindered effective solutions for pollution issues. Meanwhile, those affected have suffered increasingly severe health and psychological impacts. In recent years, public advocacy has propelled the PRTR law through consideration in the House of Representatives' committee and is expected to be reviewed in December 2025.
Amidst an anonymous polluted city, Thairath Plus invites a conversation with Penchom Saetang (เพ็ญโฉม แซ่ตั้ง), Director of the Ecological Restoration Foundation (EARTH) and a representative of the public petition for the PRTR bill. This discussion will reflect on the painful past of communities facing pollution and the significance of the PRTR law as a key to unraveling pollution sources for future change.
Why is the PRTR law necessary, and who benefits from it?