Potential health risk of heavy metals pollution in the downstream of Citarum river
Siti Shara (a), Setyo Sarwanto Moersidik (a*), Tri Edhi Budhi Soesilo (a)

(a) Environmental Science Study Program, School of Environmental Science, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, 10340, Indonesia
*ssarwanto[at]eng.ui.ac.id

Abstract

The Citarum River is the most polluted river in the world. Heavy metals such as Zn, Cd, Cr, Mn and Fe are abundant in the environment and have a major impact on the environment due to their resilience in the environment and their potential for toxicity and ecotoxicity and will disturb the sustainability and balance of the ecosystem. This is a major issue of concern in environmental science studies. This paper has investigated the potential risk of heavy metals to human health from various components that pollute water by conducting literature studies. So that the impact of heavy metal pollution on rivers can be known as a reference in the management of pollution in the Citarum watershed. We found that heavy metals can contaminate the food chain and then become a source of toxins for humans. In addition, people can be exposed to heavy metal contaminated water. The risk of heavy metal poisoning depends on the amount of the dose that enters the body. Meanwhile, the dose increases with the concentration, duration and frequency of exposure and the way it enters the body. Meanwhile, the greater the exposure to heavy metals, the greater the risk of poisoning.

Keywords: Citarum river- Health risk- Heavy metal- Water pollution

Topic: Environment, Health, and Safety