Impacts of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) on Environment and Human Health of Gorontalo Utara Regency, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Mercury concentrations in the environment (river sediments and fish) and in the hair of artisanal gold miners and inhabitants of the Gorontalo Utara Regency were determined in order to understand the status of contamination, sources and their impacts on human health. Mercury concentrations in the sediments along the Wubudu and Anggrek rivers are already above the tolerable level declared safe by the World Health Organization (WHO). Meanwhile, commonly consumed fish, such as snapper, have mercury levels above the threshold limit (0.5 μg/g). The mean mercury concentrations in the hair of a group of inhabitants from Anggrek and Sumalata are higher than those in hair from control group (the inhabitants of Monano, Tolinggula and Kwandang). The mean mercury concentration in the hair of female inhabitants is higher than that in the hair of male inhabitants in each group. Neurological examinations were performed on 44 participants of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) miners and inhabitants of Anggrek and Sumalata. From the 12 investigated symptoms, four common symptoms were already observed among the participants, namely, bluish gums, Babinski reflex, labial reflex and tremor.

Heavy Metals Distribution in the Artisanal Gold Mining Area in Wonogiri

“…A highly contaminated area was identified close to the former discharge zone for the wastewater produced during the washing procedures at the plant, where the concentrations of Hg in the surface horizons were higher than 1 g kg−1. The same result was also reported by Arifin [Arifin et al, 2015] that higher mercury concentration was close to the artisanal processing units, and the levels gradually decrease downstream. The lowering concentration of mercury in water occurs as it is diluted by river system.…”

“…Operational of gold mining is generally done by open pit with activity using manual simple equipments, and it is classified as artisanal and small scale gold mining [Arifin et al, 2015;McMahon et al, 2000]. Sorting material containing gold prospect is conducted by using the flowing water that coming from the water spring.…”

“…Total absence of environmental management, health effects from mercury pollution [Hitch et al, 2010;McMahon et al, 2000]. Also the most probable source of the elevated mercury level in inhabitants of the ASGM site is the mercury vapor from smelting processes, which mainly occurs outside, in gold shops and sometimes inside houses [Arifin et al, 2015]. If hazardous materials used in the mining industry are mismanaged, they can poison humans, animals, plants and aquatic ecosystems, disrupt their reproductive processes or their habitat, and it will be very costly to remedy [Australian Government 2016].…”

Mercury Exposure and Health Problems in Urban Artisanal Gold Mining (UAGM) in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

“…The gold workers in this city fabricate gold bars to produce gold jewelry and then are sold to gold stores. Gold mining companies and ASGM in neighboring provinces (Minahasang utara [2], Gorontalo [15], Palu [16], and Kendari [17]) make significant contributions to the supply of gold bars to the city.…”

Environmental Health Risk Assessment Due to Exposure to Mercury in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Area of Lebak District

“…The proposed route for mercury to enter the human body is only an indirect way through the food web of the inhabitants (Arifin, Sakakibara, & Sera, 2015).Diet hold an important role in individual exposure to environmental chemicals. Mercury contamination from the human food chain is a significant problem for human health and well-being.…”