Phuket's garbage incinerator has come under considerable fire in the past few months. Concerns that the accumulated garbage on the island has far exceeded the capacity of the incinerator have already made headlines. The incinerator is now back in the news after a recent revelation by the NHRC.

Concern over toxic levels of dioxin emitted by Phuket's garbage incinerator recently prompted the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to urge government officials to tackle the issue before worries over pollution affect tourism.

Human Rights Commissioner Vasant Panich told the Phuket Post that the aim of speaking up about the problem now is to encourage immediate action to reduce the levels of dioxin and other dangerous pollutants before public health is affected.

In addition, he said, the Public Health Ministry should act now to give free medical check-ups to people living near the incinerator, which is located on the East side of Phuket City.

"We want the government to hurry to stop the possibility that the incinerator might cause disease in Phuket," he said.

The Bangkok Post reported on Feb. 29 that local villagers had complained last year about hazardous emissions from the incinerator. The Bangkok Post story cited careless dumping of ashes and damaging wastewater discharge among the villagers' concerns.

Comissioner Panich said that the Pollution Control Department's recent check of dioxin levels at the incinerator in Phuket showed readings of 0.72 nanograms. The acceptable standard is a mean dioxin reading of less than 0.5 nanograms.

The situation has become critical, he added. Phuket doesn't have the capability to burn all of its garbage, and the local government doesn't seem to care about the problem and doesn't seem to be seriously trying to stop pollution.

An official at the Phuket incinerator who spoke with the Phuket Post said the municipal authorities have a current project to buy a new incinerator. Phuket has a lot of tourism, and that means a lot of garbage, the source said.

The crux of the problem, however, isn't just the volume of garbage, Vassant said. The problem lies with how much garbage isn't properly burned. Waste garbage that is not completely burned is a major cause of dioxin.

Dioxins are highly toxic, and the effects of exposure are cumulative. High levels of dioxins can cause a severe form of acne called chloracne. Developmental problems in children, as well as a number of chronic diseases and cancer are associated with dioxin exposure.

Problems with waste disposal at Phuket's incinerator are not new. A study released in March 2006 by the Campaign for Alternative Industry Network, Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Alternative Agriculture Network pointed to Thailand's only large-scale waste incinerators at Ko Samui and Phuket as potential dioxin hotspots.

With the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) taking the lead and showing determined signs of dealing with the issue, it is hoped, a resolution will be arrived at soon.

Another incinerator will be a much-needed addition. Close monitoring of the burning process and efficacy can also ensure that the problem is controlled and eliminated before any major consequences.