JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Mercury waste has contaminated several bodies of water in the country. In some regions, people suffer from illnesses and disabilities as a result of exposure to mercury. Many other threats face the people.
Several surveys show that mercury contamination has exceeded the normal level. Bogor Institute of Technology ecotoxicology expert Etty Riani has found high levels of mercury in Jakarta Bay, Banten Bay, Lampung Bay and Bayur Bay. Similar contamination has also been seen in Saguling Dam, Cirata Dam, and the Ciliwung River, as well as the coastal areas of Surabaya, Bali and Papua.
Mercury contamination means the fish from these areas cannot be consumed. “It has happened. Fish from Indonesia is being rejected on the international market because of mercury contamination,” Etty said on Monday (3/11).
At certain levels, mercury exposure will damage the nerves, brain and internal organs. At the next level, the contamination will trigger genetic mutations.
BaliFokus, which works on environmental management, found several children with disabilities in three locations near a small-scale gold mine (PESK). The mining sites are in Bombana, Southeast Sulawesi; Sekotong, West Lombok; and Cisitu, Lebak. BaliFokus researcher Yuyun Ismawati said mercury contamination had affected children’s health. Some babies had been born with abnormal conditions.
Mercury poisoning mostly affected the nervous system. In pregnant women, it will cause abnormalities in newborns. If the babies are exposed to mercury after birth, it will affect their nervous system. The impact will be gradual and grow worse in the coming years.
Severe poisoning will happen if humans consume food and drink contaminated by mercury. The danger is that the chemical element accumulates inside the body of living creatures. Methylmercury causes various nervous disorders and organ dysfunction at a faster rate, around 5-10 years after exposure.
Similar impacts also threaten wild flora and fauna. “If we witness environmental destruction, I believe all living things are gone. Also, there is genetic mutation in animals and plants,” Yuyun said.
Although it is restricted, mercury was still being sold freely as of Monday. The South Tapanuli Police arrested two illegal mining employees in South Angkola district and confiscated two bottles of mercury.
Exceeding normal levels
biochemical environmental health lecturer Sofia of Banda Aceh’s Syiah Kuala University found high mercury exposure in Krueng Sabee district, Aceh Jaya regency, Aceh. Of the 72 people tested, 92.28 percent were exposed to mercury. “I am very surprised. Mercury exposure has exceeded the norm,” Sofia said. The area is located in the Gunong Ujeun mountains, which is the site of small-scale gold mining.
The World Health Organization has set the normal level of mercury content in the blood at 0.001 part per million (ppm). Meanwhile, the mercury exposure Sofia found was 0.048 ppm.
The mercury content of the residents near the illegal mine in Botak Mount, Maluku, is rising. A 2014 Pattimura University research found mercury exposure of 18 ppm from the hair samples of residents.
Chemical lecturer Abraham Mariwy predicted that the level of contamination was rising based on a sample from Buru Island taken in August.
In Jambi, some of the 3,000 hectares of rice fields that were converted into gold mines are now being restored as farmland, but the former mining site is contaminated with mercury. “I worry that the mercury exposure will affect public health,” said Mausul Akhmad, head of the Jambi Food, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry Office.
Relocation
A similar concern was expressed by Banten’s Cisitu customary leader, Mochammad Okri. Mercury contamination that has exceeded the normal level in the red zone has made the areas unsafe for people.
“The areas included in the red zones are not safe for living. The people must be evacuated,” he said.
In southern Bogor, research also shows mercury contamination that is no less threatening. “Awareness of mercury’s threat to human health must be raised,” said Bogor Regent Nurhayanti.
South Solok Regent Muzni Zakaria said it was hard to stop gold mining that used mercury. “It will require a joint effort to take action,” Muzni said.
Sukabumi Industry, Energy and Mineral Resources Office head Adi Purnomo said the revenues from massive small-scale gold mining that used mercury did not make up for the environmental destruction and the health impact on the people.
South Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Zulkarnain Adinegara said his office had mapped out the mercury distribution chain from the suppliers to the miners. The police plan to involve several agencies in a special operation to cut off the supply chain, which is expected to put a stop to the illegal small-scale gold mines. “If they want to continue to mine gold, they must obtain a permit and use a substance other than mercury,” he said.
(AIN/NSA/ZAK/RAM/ITA/BAY/SEM/RTS/ISW/ICH/BRO/FRN)
