Preliminary findings released on October 10th indicate that approximately 20% of agricultural soil sampled from the Kok, Sai, and Ruak river basins in Chiang Rai exceeds the Department of Land Development’s standard for arsenic levels. An additional 50% of the tested soil in Chiang Rai requires ongoing monitoring, raising concerns about potential long-term impacts on agriculture and public health. Parinyanon Thongkham, director of the Chiang Rai Land Development Station, disclosed the initial results. The findings suggest a significant issue with arsenic contamination within these key agricultural areas of Chiang Rai. Further investigation is needed to determine the source of the arsenic and implement mitigation strategies. These basins are critical for local food production, so the study’s findings are particularly concerning for regional agriculture. The Chiang Rai Land Development Station will continue to assess the situation.