Thai authorities are urging children, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases not to eat snails captured from the Shan Lun River because of elevated levels of arsenic.

Experts have warned that the arsenic content in these snails has exceeded the safety standard by 10 to 20 times, which may cause serious poisoning after consumption.

The findings were presented to Thai news agencies on May 3 by Somporn Pengkham, director of the Environmental Health Public Advocacy Platform (CHIA Platform).

It is reported that the snail samples used for the study were submitted for inspection by the Mae Sam Laep Village Administration and supported by the Thai Health Promotion Institute.

Laboratory tests at the Environmental Science Research Center of Chiang Mai University showed that arsenic and lead levels exceeded the standard, while cadmium levels were still within the prescribed range.

"Arsenic and mercury are the most toxic and dangerous pollutants that can affect long-term health," said Pengkham, Director of Somporn. "

as a result, the research team has advised local authorities and community watchdog organizations along the Lun River to advise local residents to avoid eating snails from the river for the time being.

In particular, it is necessary to be alert to children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with kidney disease or cancer-based diseases.

As a next step, the team plans to continue testing for the most toxic inorganic arsenic.

In addition, it will cooperate with the health department to analyze whether there is poisoning in the body by testing the urine and blood of local residents.

Chiangchaiskulthai Dr. Guan Kwanpracha, a senior health expert at the Thai Ministry of Public Health, also said: "This finding is consistent with the previous discovery of heavy metals in the water of the Shan Lun River. If there are toxins in the water, it is a natural law that fish, snails and other organisms living in the water are polluted. "

he also pointed out that these metals often accumulate in fish heads and internal organs, so the Ministry of Public Health should be more strict in testing food on the market.

Mae Sam Laep Village Administration Head Po ngpipat Meebenjamas said it had told local residents to avoid eating snails.

However, for the villages along the Shan Lun River, these snails are both a seasonal delicacy and an important source of income.

A local resident said: "The snails are delicious and very popular. In early summer, when the river is clear, people pick up snails from the rocks and sell them for about 100 baht per kilogram. We had no idea that these snails were a health hazard. "

the findings shed light on the food safety challenges faced by communities that depend on rivers along the Thai-Myanmar border, as well as cross-border pollution.