Mercury (Hg) Concentration of Sediment Air Putih River Due to Gold Mining Without Permission
Irwan Mulyadi, Badrus Zaman, Sri Sumiyati

Environmental Engineering Department
Diponegoro University

Abstract

The rise of mining activities without permission (PETI) in Tambang Sawah Village, Sub-district Pinang Belapis, District Lebong which was a peoples mining from Dutch colonial legacy have potency to cause environmental problems because the mercury application, especially in the Air Putih River which had become dumping area of the tailings waste mine mud without treatment. The utilization of mercury as a gold binder element in the amalgamation process. Mercury pollutants that enter the Air Putih River can spread along the river flow and accumulate in river sediments. The sampling was conducted using grab sampling method and sediment stream sample analyzed in the laboratory, as many as 20 samples taken at several locations in the Gelundungan house and 5 samples taken from the river flow. Analysis of mercury levels in tailings waste and river sediments carried out using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (CV-AAS) and quality standards refers to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Mercury levels in tailings waste are ranged from 2,3739 to 265,4301 ppm (quality standard 0,0174 ppm) and the levels of mercury in river sediments at five sampling points from upstream to downstream river of the Tambang Sawah Village boundary, respectively 1,34 ppm, 4,18 ppm, 35,89 ppm, 50,32 ppm and 114,37 ppm. The mercury concentration in tailings waste and river sediment has exceeded the quality standard that indicates the river sediment has been polluted by mercury.

Keywords: mercury, mining, sediment, water, waste

Topic: Environment, Health, and Safety