MERCURY POLLUTION FROM SMALL SCALE GOLD MINES IN AGRICULTURAL LAND
Ali Munawar1*, Cindy Intania2, and M. Faiz Barchia3

1Faculty of Agriculture, UPN ^Veteran^ Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia-
2Office of Extension Servie, Metro, Lampung, Indonesia-
3Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu, Bengkulu, Indonesia
*E-mail: ali.munawar[at]upnyk.ac.id

Abstract

Small scale gold mines have been taking place in many parts of Indonesia. Despite their significant contribution to the total world gold production, they have been raising environmental problems. The problems have been associated with the use of mercury (Hg) in the amalgamation to separate the gold from the ores. This process produces mercury-containing slurries discharged to surrounding streams, potentially creating water pollution. If the water is used for irrigation to surrounding rice fields, some mercury may stay in streambed and accumulate in irrigated soils and enters the food chain, including human consumption. This research was aimed to assess pollution potential in stream water and rice fields around small scale mines in Lebong District, Bengkulu Province. This research was started from November to December 2018. It consisted of field activites and laboratory analysis. Field activities included collecting 9 water samples, 6 streambed samples, 3 soil samples, and 3 plant samples in different locations. Laboratory activities were carried out at the Soil Science Laboratory, University of Bengkulu and the Integrated Research and Testing Laboratory (LPPT) Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta. The results showed that all water, streambed sediment, soil and water samples contained mercury and their concentrations exceeded the threshold values. The highest total Hg for all samples was 0.044 ppm in water, 58.19 ppm in streambed, 15.44 ppm in soil, and 16.85 ppm in rice plants.

Keywords: mercury pollution, small scle gold mines, streambed, agricultura land

Topic: Soil and Water management