Report of Activities in Thailand for the Period July 5-25, 2004

by

Artnarong Thansandote (AT) and Vichate Ungvichian (VU)

1. Collaboration with Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)

During a recent trip to Thailand (July 4-18, 2004), AT participated in a meeting of local government/university/business parties who are interested in the issues of electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health. The meeting was held at the Department of Medical Sciences, MOPH, Nonthaburi. Attendees included a number of MOPH officials and scientists, and representatives of Mahidol University, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), the Thailand Industrial Standards Institute, and the Telephone Organization of Thailand (TOT). Part of the meeting outcome is as follows:

- The Asia Pacific EMF Conference (Bangkok, January 26-30, 2004) has stimulated the interest of Thai scientists. Many of them have asked MOPH what the ministry plans to do to address EMF-health issues.

- Interested parties should gather information about EMF activities in Thailand. MOPH will serve as a collaborating center and will organize a national EMF workshop in the spring of 2005.

- Interested parties should collaborate in the translation of the World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheets on EMF and public health into the Thai language. When the translation is done, MOPH will make a request to have the Thai version posted along with the original to the WHO International EMF Project website.

- It is a good idea to carry out more EMF surveys in Thailand. MOPH has done some measurements of EMF from video display terminals and radiation leakage from microwave ovens, while EGAT has conducted preliminary surveys of EMF from high voltage transmission lines. On the other hand, there are no data on exposures from radiofrequency (RF) sources, such as radio & TV broadcast transmitters and mobile phone base station antennas. And yet, there are no national regulations or standards for EMF exposure in Thailand.

- A comprehensive survey of RF fields from radio & TV broadcast transmitters and base stations should be conducted. MOPH would need financial support and technical expertise, if they decide to undertake the survey.

- Worldwide EMF exposure standards should be reviewed to gain a better understanding and to consider which one Thailand should adopt or whether the country should develop its own guidelines.

Dr. Boonchai Somboonsook, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences (DMSc), told AT that he would need expert advice and technical assistance in carrying out many of the above activities. Dr. Boonchai oversees the Division of Radiation and Medical Devices (DRMD), which is responsible for protection in clinical and industrial uses of radiation emitting devices. Recent changes to the DRMD management have contributed to the broadening of their scientific collaboration with other organizations.

Following the meeting of interested parties, AT has worked with DRMD scientists to develop a project proposal on "Development of Technical Skills in Electromagnetic Field Exposure Assessment." The proposal will soon be submitted to the Office of the Reverse Brain Drain (RBD) Project for possible funding support. If the proposal is approved, DRMD scientists will carry out a comprehensive survey of EMF on platforms of BTS/underground train stations, and RF fields from AM, FM and TV broadcast towers and mobile phone base stations. AT, together with his colleagues in Canada and the U.S., will provide technical expertise and demonstrate how to assess EMF exposures (theoretical estimation and measurements). AT is working with his colleagues to negotiate for the donation of some EMF survey instruments from North America to MOPH.

2. Visit to the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR)

On July 6, 2004, AT visited TISTR, a state enterprise under the Ministry of Science and Technology, which is located at Klong Luang, Pathum Thani. After a lab tour, he met with the Governor (Dr. Birasak Varasundharosoth), the Deputy Governor (Dr. Nongluck Pankurddee), the Director of Pharmaceutical and Natural Products Department (Mr. Taweesak Suntorntanasat) and Dr. Prapaipat Klungsupya. We discussed possible scientific collaboration in a number of areas, including radiation biology. The collaboration will begin with the genotoxicity analysis of biological samples on glass slides to be prepared and shipped to TISTR by Health Canada, as part of a study on the effect of RF fields on human cells. Dr. Prapaipat has corresponded with one of AT’s colleagues at Health Canada to develop a project proposal for possible funding from the Office of the Reverse Brain Drain Project. The TISTR Governor was interested in paying a short visit to research organizations in Canada.

3. Collaboration with PTEC and EEI

On July 8, 2004, VU and AT visited the National Institute of Metrology (Thailand) (NIMT), which is temporarily located in the Metrology Building of the Department of Science Service, Ministry of Science and Technology. They met with Dr. Pian Totarong, Director of NIMT, to discuss the role and responsibility of NIMT in developing electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) calibration laboratory.

On July 9, 2004, VU and AT participated in a meeting of EMC interested parties, which was hosted by NIMT. Attendees included representatives from the Electrical and Electronics Institute (EEI), the Electrical and Electronic Products Testing Center (PTEC) and the Office of the Reverse Brain Drain (RBD) Project. The purpose of the meeting was (i) to sort out a number of unresolved issues and clarify the respective roles of NIMT, PTEC and EEI in metrology and test equipment calibration labs, and (ii) to discuss a joint EEI-PTEC project proposal (2.5 million bath) on developing EMC calibration laboratories at their respective test centers. This proposal is being finalized and should soon be ready for submission to the RBD Office for possible funding. VU and AT are expected to provide advice and recommend expert(s) from North America to assist in the development of EMC equipment calibration labs.

4. Collaboration with Khon Kaen University (KKU)

A team of ATPAC visited KKU on July 14-16, 2004. Members of the team were:

Dr.Vichate Ungvichian (leader)
Dr. Methi Wecharatana
Dr. Artnarong Thansandote
Dr. Chokechai (Box) Leangsuksan
Dr. Suroj Thangjitham
Dr. Paungthip Boonperm-Weniger
Dr. Wallapak Tavanapong
Mr. Wijit Siripun

The team was welcomed by Dr. Sumon Sakolchai, President of KKU, and Dr. Kultida Tuamsuk, Vice-President for Academic & Foreign Affairs. The objective of the visit was to discuss the establishment of an E-saan software park and a science museum, and the preparation of the Faculty of Engineering for program assessment by the U.S. Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

The ATPAC team was divided into three groups to meet with their KKU counterparts:

Group 1. Dr. Chokechai, Dr. Wallapak and Mr. Wijit (E-saan software park)
Group 2. Dr. Paungthip (science museum)
Group 3. Dr.Vichate, Dr. Suroj and Dr. Artnarong (ABET)

Dr. Methi, Dr. Vichate and Dr. Suroj also visited laboratories that have capabilities to carry out research in the area of nanotechnology. The ATPAC team later had another session with the KKU administrators to conclude their activities. During the concluding session, Group 1 offered to review all undergraduate programs relevant to information technology, while Group 3 proposed a review of all undergraduate engineering programs with an aim of restructuring for global competitiveness.

During the visit, AT and VU spent part of their time discussing with Dean of Engineering (Dr. Kittichai Triratarasirichai) and Head of the Electrical Engineering Department (Dr. Apirat Siritaratiwat) the improvement of their proposal on the development of EMC research, teaching and testing facilities. This proposal will be resubmitted to the Office of the Reverse Brain Drain (RBD) Project for possible funding support.