Emission and Dispersion of Gaseous Mercury from Artisanal Small-scale Gold Mining Plants in Palu City, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

• SERIKAWA Yuka

  Dept. of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University

• KAWAKAMI Tomonori

  Dept. of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University

• CYIO Basir

  Dept. of Soil Science, Agrotechnology, Tadulako University

• NUR Isrun

  Dept. of Soil Science, Agrotechnology, Tadulako University

• ELVINCE Rosana

  Dept. of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology

• INOUE Takanobu

  Dept. of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• インドネシア中央スラウェシ州Palu市における金精錬所からの大気への水銀の放出と拡散
• インドネシア チュウオウ スラウェシシュウ Paluシ ニ オケル キン セイレンジョ カラ ノ タイキ エ ノ スイギン ノ ホウシュツ ト カクサン

Abstract

Decrease of usage of mercury and of the emission of mercury are urgent requirement for our health on a global scale. In Indonesia, however, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is actively operated, and a considerable amount of mercury is consumed in the process. In Poboya area of Palu City, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, more than 760 of ASGM are in operation. In the ASGM plants in Poboya, about 180 tons of mercury is estimated to be consumed to produce gold amalgam every year, leading to yield 45kg of purified gold. In the gold purification process, gaseous mercury is emitted into the atmosphere without treatment. The current research is to measure the space distribution of the mercury concentration around the gold mining plant in Poboya.<BR>Extremely high concentration of mercury exceeding WHO guideline of 1000ng/m³ was observed in Poboya. In addition, high concentration of mercury as high as 70ng/m³ observed at the sampling point 8km apart from the center of Poboya indicated that the gaseous mercury could have prevailed over Palu City and threatened health of the residents.

Journal

• ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

  ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 24 (4), 269-274, 2011

  SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, JAPAN

Keywords

• Mercury
• artisanal and small scale gold mining
• amalgam
• atmosphere
• Indonesia

Details

• CRID: 1390001204420651904
• NII Article ID: 10029242020
• NII Article ID: 130004554161
• NII Book ID: AN10165252
• DOI: 10.11353/sesj.24.269
• ISSN: 18845029
• ISSN: 09150048
• NDL BIB ID: 11199279
• Web Site: https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R000000004-I11199279
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • NDL
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed