Environmental Risk Assessment of Agrochemical Packaging Waste in Northeast Thailand

Abstract

Thailand is a predominantly agricultural country where the majority of people earn a living by agriculture. Rapid agricultural growth in recent decades leads to high use of agrochemical. Lack of packaging management has created an environmental risk from pesticide residues. The objective of this study was to monitor the environmental risk from agrochemical packaging waste in Northeast, Thailand. Farmers from 4 villages in Bung-nium, Khon Kaen Province were interviewed using a questionnaire together with the study of diffuse pollution from agrochemical waste in soil and water. The pesticides used in every step of agricultural production followed in decreasing order: organophosphate, pyrethroid, carbamate, organochlorine, thiocarbamate, paraquat, and others, respectively. Agrochemical package waste investigated included foil bags, glass bottles, gallon plastic containers, plastic bottles, paper bags, carton, aluminum bottles and woven sacks. Glass bottle and plastic container were found in higher proportion. Most of agrochemical package waste was disposed in unattended repositories in the field such as under trees or in pits. The outcome of this study is useful for agrochemical waste management and seeks to reduce the diffuse pollution of agrochemical waste to environment.