PIXE analysis of water and tailings from lead-mining area in Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Water and tailings from lead-mining area in Kanchanaburi, Thailand were analyzed by PIXE to study how serious the alleged pollution was. Eleven water samples were collected in the field and were sealed in the tube after the pH < 2 was attained by ultrapure nitric acid. All of the samples were transported to Nishina Memorial Cyclotron Center of Japan Radioisotope Association and analyzed by its vacuum PIXE. The result showed that the water contains up to 25 ppb Pb with an average value 12 ppb. The value is lower than the environmental norm in Thailand (0.05 mg/L) but higher than that of WHO (10 μg/L = 0.01 mg/L). Tailings contain high amount of lead. Since resumption of mining is being considered to deliver the economic expectation of local people, it should be invested in treatment or containment within storage facilities. Also discharge of treated process water should be regularly monitored by competent agencies.