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Male YT, Reichelt-Brushett A, Burton ED, Nanlohy A. Assessment of mercury distribution and bioavailability from informal coastal cinnabar mining - Risk to the marine environment. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 199:116047. [PMID: 38237248 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Coastal cinnabar mining commenced in 2010 around Luhu on Seram (Ceram) Island, Indonesia. This study investigates the ore characteristics and environmental distribution and bioavailability of mercury in coastal sediments from eight sites adjacent to, and north and south of the mining area. Sediment and ore samples were digested using 1:3 HNO3:HCl for total extractable metal determination and separate samples were extracted with 1.0 HCl for bioavailable metals (Hg, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni and Pb). Analysis was completed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Ore defined by miners as 'first class ore' was around 50 % cinnabar. Mercury concentrations were extremely elevated in near coastal sediments (up to 2796 mg/kg) with bioavailable concentrations exceeding 450 mg/kg. Marine sediments elevated in mercury extend to the north and south of the coastal mine site and cover in excess of 14 km. Total organic carbon in marine sediments was relatively low (predominately <0.6 %) suggesting mercury methylation will likely be slow, however, inorganic mercury is a known toxicant. Other metals of environmental concern (Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni and Pb) in sediments were not strongly associated with the mining operations, rather were elevated around coastal villages, but not at concentrations that raise immediate concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusthinus Tobias Male
- Department Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Pattimura, Ambon, Indonesia
| | | | - Edward D Burton
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia
| | - Alberth Nanlohy
- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, University of Pattimura, Ambon, Indonesia
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Tomiyasu T, Kodamatani H, Hamada YK, Matsuyama A, Imura R, Taniguchi Y, Hidayati N, Rahajoe JS. Distribution of total mercury and methylmercury around the small-scale gold mining area along the Cikaniki River, Bogor, Indonesia. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2017; 24:2643-2652. [PMID: 27830415 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7998-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the distribution of total mercury (T-Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in the soil and water around the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) area along the Cikaniki River, West Java, Indonesia. The concentration of T-Hg and MeHg in the forest soil ranged from 0.07 to 16.7 mg kg-1 and from <0.07 to 2.0 μg kg-1, respectively, whereas it ranged from 0.40 to 24.9 mg kg-1 and from <0.07 to 56.3 μg kg-1, respectively, in the paddy field soil. In the vertical variation of the T-Hg of forest soil, the highest values were observed at the soil surface, and these values were found to decrease with increasing depth. A similar variation was observed for MeHg and total organic carbon content (TOC), and a linear relationship was observed between them. Mercury deposited on the soil surface can be trapped and retained by organic matter and subjected to methylation. The slope of the line obtained for the T-Hg vs. TOC plot became larger near the ASGM villages, implying a higher rate of mercury deposition in these areas. In contrast, the plots of MeHg vs. TOC fell along the same trend line regardless of the distance from the ASGM village. Organic carbon content may be a predominant factor in controlling MeHg formation in forest soils. The T-Hg concentration in the river water ranged from 0.40 to 9.6 μg L-1. River water used for irrigation can prove to be a source of mercury for the paddy fields. The concentrations of Hg0 and Hg2+ in river water showed similar variations as that observed for the T-Hg concentration. The highest Hg0 concentration of 3.2 μg L-1 can be attributed to the waste inflow from work sites. The presence of Hg0 in river water can become a source of mercury present in the atmosphere along the river. MeHg concentration in the river water was found to be 0.004-0.14% of T-Hg concentration, which was considerably lower than the concentrations of other Hg species. However, MeHg comprised approximately 0.2% of the T-Hg in paddy field soil. Mercury deposited from the atmosphere and the river water can be subjected to methylation. Paddy fields are very important ecosystems; therefore, the effect of MeHg on these ecosystems and human beings should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Tomiyasu
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan.
- Environmental Safety Center, Kagoshima University, 1-21-35 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan.
| | - Hitoshi Kodamatani
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Yuriko Kono Hamada
- Environmental Safety Center, Kagoshima University, 1-21-35 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Akito Matsuyama
- National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto, 867-0008, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Imura
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Yoko Taniguchi
- National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto, 867-0008, Japan
| | - Nuril Hidayati
- Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Raya Jakarta, Bogor Km.46 Cibinong, Bogor, JL, 16911, Indonesia
| | - Joeni Setijo Rahajoe
- Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Raya Jakarta, Bogor Km.46 Cibinong, Bogor, JL, 16911, Indonesia
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Sherman LS, Blum JD, Basu N, Rajaee M, Evers DC, Buck DG, Petrlik J, DiGangi J. Assessment of mercury exposure among small-scale gold miners using mercury stable isotopes. Environ Res 2015; 137:226-34. [PMID: 25577187 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2014] [Revised: 11/29/2014] [Accepted: 12/25/2014] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Total mercury (Hg) concentrations in hair and urine are often used as biomarkers of exposure to fish-derived methylmercury (MeHg) and gaseous elemental Hg, respectively. We used Hg stable isotopes to assess the validity of these biomarkers among small-scale gold mining populations in Ghana and Indonesia. Urine from Ghanaian miners displayed similar Δ(199)Hg values to Hg derived from ore deposits (mean urine Δ(199)Hg=0.01‰, n=6). This suggests that urine total Hg concentrations accurately reflect exposure to inorganic Hg among this population. Hair samples from Ghanaian miners displayed low positive Δ(199)Hg values (0.23-0.55‰, n=6) and low percentages of total Hg as MeHg (7.6-29%, n=7). These data suggest that the majority of the Hg in these miners' hair samples is exogenously adsorbed inorganic Hg and not fish-derived MeHg. Hair samples from Indonesian gold miners who eat fish daily displayed a wider range of positive Δ(199)Hg values (0.21-1.32‰, n=5) and percentages of total Hg as MeHg (32-72%, n=4). This suggests that total Hg in the hair samples from Indonesian gold miners is likely a mixture of ingested fish MeHg and exogenously adsorbed inorganic Hg. Based on data from both populations, we suggest that total Hg concentrations in hair samples from small-scale gold miners likely overestimate exposure to MeHg from fish consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura S Sherman
- University of Michigan, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 1100 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
| | - Joel D Blum
- University of Michigan, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 1100 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Niladri Basu
- McGill University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X3V9
| | - Mozhgon Rajaee
- University of Michigan, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - David C Evers
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 19 Flaggy Meadow Road, Gorham, ME 04038, United States
| | - David G Buck
- Biodiversity Research Institute, 19 Flaggy Meadow Road, Gorham, ME 04038, United States
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