Mercury (Hg) concentration of river water and sediment in Tambang Sawah village due to gold mining without permission

Abstract

The rise of mining activities without permission (PETI) which was a people’s mining from Dutch colonial legacy, located in the Tambang Sawah Village, Pinang Belapis District, Lebong Regency has caused environmental problems especially mercury pollution in that village river water. The sampling method refer to Japan Public Health Association (JPHA), then sample analyzed in the national standard laboratory and the results were compared with the Government Regulation of Republic Indonesia No. 82 of 2001 on Management of Water Quality and Control Over Water Pollution. Concentration of total mercury in river water at five sampling points from upstream to downstream of the Tambang Sawah Village river, respectively <0,0003 ppm, 0,0004 ppm, 0,0007 ppm, 0,0008 ppm and 0,0011 ppm and total concentration of mercury in river sediments respectively 1.34 ppm, 4.18 ppm, 35.89 ppm, 50.32 ppm and 114.37 ppm, has exceeded the threshold limit.