The Impacts of Charcoal Burning at Khok Soong Subdistrict Municipality, Phon Thong District, Roi Et Province, Thailand

Abstract

Fuels are essential for the production of various energy, especially as heat in cooking. Generally, the fires used in cooking come from a variety of things, such as electricity, gas, and even firewood. However, rural people often had the opportunity to use only firewood for cooking fuel. Therefore, this research aimed (1) to study the problem of the charcoal burning business, 2) analyze the effects of the charcoal burning business, and 3) propose suggestions and solutions to the effects of the charcoal burning business. This research was studied in Khok Sung Sub-District Municipality, Phon Thong District, Roi Et Province, Thailand by using a combination of research tools including questionnaires for 216 persons and in-depth interviews for 15 persons. Data analysis by content analysis method, along with descriptive statistical analysis. The research results found that:

1. The 3 main problems of the charcoal burning business are as follows: (1) Odor: Burning charcoal will produce a bad smell that is hard to control. (2) Smoke: Combustion There will be smoke produced from burning all day and night. And (3) Dust: Burning charcoal will produce dust that is formed from ashes and soot that disperse into the air, where dust may fly along clothing, the poor body can affect the respiratory system.


2. Impacts from the charcoal burning business were found to have 3 issues: (1) The most affected by odor were 85 (41.3%), Impact of soot smoke, 83 (40.3%), and dust effects of 41 persons (19.9%), respectively. (2) Moderate health effects were found to have the highest mean irritant, respiratory effects (mean 1.88), effects on sick/cold/cough/sneezing (mean 1.79), impact on the rash was minimal (mean value 1.50) respectively. (3) For the treatment of illness, it was found that the number of self-medicated patients was 54 (45.4%), who bought oral medication for 34 people (28.6%), and the number of visits to doctors was 29 (24.4%) respectively.


3. the solutions to resolve impacts from the charcoal burning business as follows: 1) the boundary should be set far from the original source, 2) The coal-burning business operator should be away from the community for a distance of 1 kilometer or more, 3) Should promote alternative occupations for entrepreneurs of charcoal burning business, 4) The number of charcoal operators should not be too large, 5) Should issue regulations to control or register entrepreneurs on a year-to-year manner, 6) An impact assessment committee should be established, ad 7) It should strictly implement the zoning policy and apply it to all operators equally.