Assesing The Risks of Mercury Contamination In Terrestrial Systems At Artisanal Buladu Gold Mine In Gorontalo Province, Indonesia

摘要

Background: Mercury (Hg) emitted from open burning of amalgam in gold recovery atudartisanal small scale gold mine in Buladu Village attributed in Hg contamination inudterrestrial systems in surrounding area. Objective: to investigate Total mercury (THg)udconcentrations in dry deposit, surface soil and foodstuffs were investigated as well asudthe potential environmental and health risks in the area of concern. Results: Theudconcentrations of THg in Deme, Buladu and Wubudu Villages in dry deposit were 136,ud501 and 326 ??g-1m2/day, in surface soil were 2184, 4465 and 4597 ??gkg-1dw, in meatudand seed of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) were 975, 1212, 1335 ??g kg-1ww and 1189,ud2014, 2973 ??gkg-1ww, in cocoa (Cocos nucifera L.) meat and milk were 1125, 1348,ud1581??g kg-1ww, and 235, 405, 477 ??g kg-1ww and in corn were 170, 240 and 327 ??gkg-ud1ww in summer season, respectively. Likewise, in rainy season, THg concentrations inudsurface soil were 1189, 2014 and 2973 ??gkg-1dw, in cocoa meat and seed were 454,ud867, 728 ??gkg-1ww and 453, 528, 459 ??gkg-1ww, in coconut meat and milk were 357,ud477, 405 kg-1ww and 201, 356, 310 ??gkg-1ww and in corn were 124, 310 and 226 ??gkg-ud1ww, respectively. The value of hazard quotient (HQ) for dry deposit, surface soil andudshallow well water were at risks with the values of 10, 46 and 1.7, respectively, whereasudtarget hazard quotient (THQ) values of edible part of cocoa, coconut and corn wereudvery low and not at risk with the values of 0.2, 0.2, 0.1, respectively. Conclusion:udEnvironmental status of terrestrial systems in Buladu gold mine and vicinity area wereudat risk while the local foodstuffs were still safe for consumption.