Characterization of potential mercury contamination in the ASGM area of Mandailing Natal, North Sumatera

Abstract A large amount of Hg is used for gold extraction through the amalgamation process in the Mandailing Natal derived from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) area located in the North Sumatera Province, Indonesia. The objective of this work was to characterize the potential contamination of total Hg in water, sediments, and soil in this ASGM area. Sampling was done in two locations in West Panyabungan and Huta Bargot Districts using grab sampling method. Results showed that accumulation of Hg in the studied soils and sediments was the highest, but Hg in aquatic solution was below the detection limit of the analytical method of the studied community wells and rivers. The highest concentration of Hg was found in the river sediments of the Saba Padang irrigation (1,63 mg/kg), and in the soil of the plantation area of Huta Bargot (1,62 mg/kg) respectively. These concentrations may pose a serious problem for aquatic and land life, related ecosystems, and human health. For further study, there is a need to study Hg availability in riverine biota to better understand the cycling of Hg in this ASGM area. Understanding the ecological impacts can assist in the prioritizing of impact mitigation efforts.

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Characterization of the potential mercury contamination in the Apolobamba gold mining area, Bolivia .

Spanish Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.3232/sjss.2011.v1.n1.06 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

Author(s):

José A. Acosta ◽

Ángel Faz Cano ◽

María Ángeles Muñoz ◽

Ricardo Vera ◽

Silvia Martínez-Martínez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gold Mining ◽

River Sediments ◽

Mining Operation ◽

Mining Area ◽

Mercury Contamination ◽

Gold Extraction ◽

Aquatic Life ◽

La Paz ◽

Soils And Sediments

A large amount of Hg is used for gold extraction through the amalgamation process in the Apolobamba gold mining area located in the northwest part of La Paz, Bolivia. This mining operation may produce a very serious impact on the ecosystems, as well as on the health of miners and inhabitants, mainly due to the primitive methods used in the gold recovery. The objective of this work was to characterize the potential contamination of total Hg in soils, sediments, water, and plants in a mining area of Bolivia. Results showed that there was atmospheric deposition of Hg in the study area. Accumulation of this metal in the studied soils and sediments was one of the highest in the world, but Hg in aquatic solution was below the detection limit of the analytical method of the studied lakes and rivers. The highest concentration of Hg was found in the river sediments of the Sunchullí- Viscachani (102 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>), and in the sediments of Sunchullí and Viscachani lakes (12.3 and 11.7 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>, respectively). These concentrations may pose a serious problem for aquatic life, related ecosystems and human health. Therefore, there is a need to study Hg availability and speciation in soils and sediments to better understand the cycling of Hg in the area.

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Optimizing soil washing remediation of mercury contaminated soil using various washing solutions and solid/liquid ratios

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202014805004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 148 ◽

pp. 05004

Author(s):

Agus Jatnika Effendi ◽

Vina Lestari ◽

Mohammad Irsyad

Keyword(s):

Distribution Coefficient ◽

Potassium Iodide ◽

Contaminated Soil ◽

Soil Washing ◽

Mercury Contamination ◽

Small Scale ◽

Gold Extraction ◽

Washing Process ◽

Fractionation Analysis ◽

Solid Liquid

Most of the artisanal and small-scale gold miners in Indonesia as in the case of those who are in Banten Province, still use the amalgamation process in the gold extraction process. Therefore, mercury contamination could not be avoided. As a result, it was found that the concentration of mercury-contaminated soil in Lebak, Banten Province was detected as high as 136,9 mg/kg. Since the contamination process occurred for a long time, making the formation and mobility of complex mercury in soil increased by time. Soil washing is one remediation technology that can be applied in the recovery of mercury-contaminated soil. This study aims to determine the optimum conditions of the soil washing process: effect of pH, the concentration of washing solutions and ratio of solid/liquid. Furthermore, the value of the distribution coefficient, desorption of mercury in the soil and fractionation of mercury in the soil were also observed. Potassium Iodide was found to be the best washing solution among others used in this study. The optimum condition was obtained at pH 2, the concentration of washing solution at 0.25 M and the solid/liquid ratio of 1:15. Under these conditions, mercury desorption efficiency reached 86.9% with the value of the distribution coefficient of 0.185. Mercury fractionation analysis in the contaminated soil showed that the mobile > semi-mobile > non-mobile fractions. Potassium iodide was able to desorb at about 84% of mobile fractions, 97% of semi-mobile and 25% non-mobile mercury.

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The potential use of Octolasmis spp. parasites in mud crabs Scylla spp. as a bioindicator for mercury pollution

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d220921 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

Author(s):

Indriyani Nur ◽

ERICK ARJUNA ARIS ◽

YUSNAINI YUSNAINI ◽

SARA BEAVIS

Keyword(s):

Bioconcentration Factor ◽

River Sediments ◽

Gill Tissue ◽

Mercury Pollution ◽

Mercury Contamination ◽

Small Scale ◽

The Mean ◽

Potential Use ◽

Host Tissues ◽

Mud Crabs

Abstract. Nur I, Aris EA, Yusnaini Y, Beavis S. 2021. The potential use of Octolasmis spp. parasites in mud crabs Scylla spp. as a bioindicator for mercury pollution. Biodiversitas 22: 3764-3772. Artisanal small-scale gold mining and the use of mercury is widespread across Indonesia, often characterized by relatively short-lived gold rushes. In the late and post-mining phases, mercury stored in mine tailings and river beds was transported down catchment, posing risks to ecosystems and human health over much longer time scales. These risks can be under-rated when mercury concentrations in water, sediments, and aquatic species are low enough to meet relevant guideline thresholds. In this study in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, we have investigated the Costraca barnacle, Octolasmis, as a bioindicator of mercury contamination. The presence of Octolasmis parasites in mud crabs, Scylla spp., and the accumulation of mercury (Hg) in the hosts, parasites, and the ambient environment, were analyzed across both dry and wet seasons. Severe infestation of Octolasmis was assessed using prevalence, abundance, and intensity. Hg concentrations were significantly higher in the Octolasmis parasites than in the host tissues, water and sediments. The mean bioconcentration factor (BCF) of Hg equaled 7938.21 from water to parasites, and 28.91 from the host’s gill tissue to the parasites. The results suggest that Octolasmis spp. can be used effectively as a bioindicator in coastal catchments impacted by mercury contamination, even when concentrations of mercury are low in water and river sediments. The study provides the first report of Octolasmis spp. parasitized to mud crabs as a reliable bioindicator of Hg contamination and pollution.

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Total Mercury in Soils and Sediments in the Vicinity of Abandoned Mercury Mine Area in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10134599 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (13) ◽

pp. 4599 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jessie Samaniego ◽

Cris Reven Gibaga ◽

Alexandria Tanciongco ◽

Rasty Rastrullo

Keyword(s):

Marine Sediments ◽

Mine Waste ◽

River Sediments ◽

Recovery Process ◽

The Philippines ◽

Mercury Contamination ◽

Mine Area ◽

Soils And Sediments ◽

Total Hg ◽

Low Efficiency

The abandoned mercury (Hg) mine area in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan was included in the list of abandoned and inactive mines in the Philippines which pose a high risk to human health and the environment, and require rehabilitation. The mine site, operated by Palawan Quicksilver Mines, Inc. (PQMI) from 1953 to 1976, is located approximately 3 km inland from Honda Bay coast and within the catchment of the Tagburos River, which is a local fishery and recreational area. In this study, total Hg levels in soils and sediments were measured to assess the possible release of Hg from the site into the surrounding natural environment. Results showed that total Hg (THg) concentrations found in soils (0.04–67.5 mg kg−1), mine waste calcines (52.7–924.2 mg kg−1), river sediments (1.8–119 mg kg−1), and marine sediments (0.04–12.7 mg kg−1) were elevated compared to the global background of 0.045–0.16 mg kg−1. The high concentrations of Hg in soils and river sediments were influenced by the different pathways for the release of Hg from its mine operations; while Hg in marine sediments was caused by the erosion of mine waste calcines near the pit lake, and calcines used to construct a wharf at the nearby Honda Bay. Mine wastes represent the largest source of Hg contamination in the area, due to the low efficiency of the recovery process during calcination. This work corresponds with the Minamata Convention on Mercury on the updated environmental assessments of abandoned Hg mines as potential source sites of mercury contamination.

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Analysis of Mercury Concentration on The Water and Sediment at Tiabo River, Roko, West Galela District, North Halmahera

The Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry Research ◽

10.21776/ub.jpacr.2020.009.01.511 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 23-31

Author(s):

Margaretha Tabita Tuny ◽

◽

Kurnia Kurnia ◽

Keyword(s):

Mercury Concentration ◽

Gold Mining ◽

Wave Length ◽

Mining Activity ◽

Mercury Contamination ◽

Data Standard ◽

The North ◽

Water And Sediment ◽

Mercury Analyzer

Gold mining activity at Tiabo river in the North Halmahera causes the water on the river is contaminated by mercury. The contamination mercury on the water can damage food chain and adverse consequences toward health of people, fish, and so on. The purpose of this study is to obtain the concentration of mercury contamination that was caused by gold mining activity. The water and sediment sample was obtained by purposive sampling. The characterization of concentration mercury in the water and sediment using mercury analyzer HG-300 in the wave length 253.72 nm. The result shows that mercury concentration of the water in the six and five sample point in the rainy session and the dry session respectively is <0.66 µg/L, and the mercury concentration in the sediment shows that the lower value in the upstream river was 1.2 mg/kg and the higher concentration in the middle of river was 8.94 mg/kg respectively in the rainy session. The result indicates that the contamination mercury in the moderate danger level according to the IADC/CEDA data standard.

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Mercury toxicity potential from artisanal and small scale gold mines in Lebong Regency, Bengkulu Province

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/20187306002 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 73 ◽

pp. 06002

Author(s):

Munawar Ali ◽

Suhartoyo Hery ◽

Suci Asriani Putri

Keyword(s):

Total Mercury ◽

River Sediments ◽

Aquatic Organisms ◽

Analysis Data ◽

Mercury Contamination ◽

Small Scale ◽

Gold Mines ◽

Mercury Analysis ◽

Toxicity Potential ◽

Streambed Sediments

Artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) is considered as the largest source of mercury pollution worldwide. The ASGM has been practiced for years in the area of Lebong Regency of Bengkulu Province. To extract gold from the ores, miners use a simple technique called Gelondong. This practice involves amalgamation process which forms amalgam, a mixure composed of mercury and gold. These amalgamation generates liquid and solid wastes (tailings) which still contain significant amount of mercury. Consequently, ASGM activities can potentially create mercury contamination of the environment, especially aquatic ecosystems. This study was aimed to investigate the concentration and distribution of total mercury in rivers to which wastes from ASGM communities in three villages of North Lebong District were dumped. Water and streambed sediments along the rivers were collected and brought to the laboratory for total mercury analysis. Data showed that total mercury was not detected in the river water but high in the river sediments with high variations among lactions from 0.11 to 110.37 mg kg-1. Apparently, total mercury tended to decrease with the distance from it source. High amounts of mercury in the river sediments could potentially spread to wider area and cause bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms, especially fish which can be dangerous to consume.

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Characterization of the Tropical Cyclones Wind Radii in the North Western Pacific Basin Using the ASCAT Winds Data Products

2018 Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium (PIERS-Toyama) ◽

10.23919/piers.2018.8597959 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Seubson Soisuvarn ◽

Suntana Oudomying

Keyword(s):

Tropical Cyclones ◽

Western Pacific ◽

Pacific Basin ◽

The North ◽

Data Products ◽

North Western ◽

North Western Pacific

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Molecular Characterization of Novel Porcine Circovirus 3 (PCV3) in Pig Populations in the North of Vietnam

10.36959/998/783 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nguyen Van Giap ◽

Chung Hee Chun ◽

Huynh Thi My Le ◽

Cao Thi Bich Phuong ◽

Vu Thi Ngoc ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Characterization ◽

Porcine Circovirus ◽

The North ◽

Porcine Circovirus 3

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Ritual Economy and the Organization of Scioto Hopewell Craft Production: Insights from the Outskirts of the Mound City Group

American Antiquity ◽

10.1017/aaq.2019.105 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 85 (2) ◽

pp. 279-304

Author(s):

Timothy D. Everhart ◽

Bret J. Ruby

Keyword(s):

Craft Production ◽

Small Scale ◽

Magnetic Survey ◽

Middle Woodland ◽

The North ◽

Large Structures ◽

Production Site ◽

Production And Consumption ◽

Ritual Economy ◽

City Group

This article offers insights into the organization of Scioto Hopewell craft production and examines the implications of this organization through the lens of ritual economy. We present a novel analysis of investigations at the North 40 site, concluding that it is a craft production site located on the outskirts of the renowned Mound City Group. High-resolution landscape-scale magnetic survey revealed a cluster of three large structures and two rows of associated pits; one of the buildings and three of the pits were sampled in excavations. Evidence from the North 40 site marks this as the best-documented Scioto Hopewell craft production site. Mica, chert, and copper were crafted here in contexts organized outside the realm of domestic household production and consumption. Other material remains from the site suggest that crafting was specialized and embedded in ceremonial contexts. This analysis of the complex organization of Scioto Hopewell craft production provides grounds for further understanding the elaborate ceremonialism practiced by Middle Woodland (AD 1–400) societies and adds to the known complexity of craft production in small-scale societies. Furthermore, this article contributes to a growing body of literature demonstrating the utility of ritual economy as a framework for approaching the sociality of small-scale societies.

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