Atmospheric Hg Levels in Tree Barks Due to Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining Activity in Bunut Seberang Village in Indonesia
Azhary Taufiq,
Melya Riniarti,
Endang Linirin Widiastuti,
Hendra Prasetia,
Slamet Budi Yuwono,
Ceng Asmarahman,
Tedy Rendra
Affiliations
Azhary Taufiq
Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung, Jl. Prof. Dr. Ir. Sumantri Brojonegoro, RW.No: 1, Gedong Meneng, Kec. Rajabasa, Kota Bandar Lampung, Lampung 35141, Indonesia
Melya Riniarti
Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung, Jl. Prof. Dr. Ir. Sumantri Brojonegoro, RW.No: 1, Gedong Meneng, Kec. Rajabasa, Kota Bandar Lampung, Lampung 35141, Indonesia
Endang Linirin Widiastuti
Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, University of Lampung, Jl. Prof. Dr. Ir. Sumantri Brojonegoro, RW.No: 1, Gedong Meneng, Kec. Rajabasa, Kota Bandar Lampung, Lampung 35141, Indonesia
Hendra Prasetia
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Gedung B.J. Habibie, Jakarta Pusat 10340, Indonesia
Slamet Budi Yuwono
Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung, Jl. Prof. Dr. Ir. Sumantri Brojonegoro, RW.No: 1, Gedong Meneng, Kec. Rajabasa, Kota Bandar Lampung, Lampung 35141, Indonesia
Ceng Asmarahman
Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung, Jl. Prof. Dr. Ir. Sumantri Brojonegoro, RW.No: 1, Gedong Meneng, Kec. Rajabasa, Kota Bandar Lampung, Lampung 35141, Indonesia
Tedy Rendra
Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Multidisciplinary, University of Lampung, Jl. Prof. Dr. Ir. Sumantri Brojonegoro, RW.No: 1, Gedong Meneng, Kec. Rajabasa, Kota Bandar Lampung, Lampung 35141, Indonesia
Mercury (Hg) is a useful heavy metal; however, it is toxic to both humans and the environment. Tree bark is an excellent bioindicator, which has been proven to be effective in studying the level of atmospheric Hg contamination. This study aimed to determine the distribution of evaporated Hg using the total weight of Hg (THg) in tree barks in Indonesia at the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) area of Bunut Seberang Village and Lampung University, respectively. Samples were taken using purposive sampling, based on the criteria of forestry trees at a height level of 1.3 m above ground as wide as 100 cm2. The samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry and Scanning electron microscopy to determine the levels of THg and to investigate the bark structures. Results showed that the highest THg values were found in a Magnolia champaca sample (56.5 µg), followed by Swietenia mahagoni (45.8 µg) and Swietenia mahagoni (33.5 µg). All species studied showed THg levels in the tree barks at an elevation from 30 to 320 m above sea level. The Hg amounts found in the sampled barks indicated the dispersion of Hg throughout the ASGM area, which signified hazardous atmospheric conditions in the area.
