Mercury Contamination of Cattle in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Bombana, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract:The industrial mining sector is one of the main contributors to environmental damage and toxic metal pollution, although some contamination originates from natural geological sources. Due to their position at the top of the food chain, cattle tend to bioaccumulate mercury (Hg) in their bodies. We used analyses of cattle hair samples to investigate Hg contamination in cattle farmed within and outside of an artisanal and small-scale gold-mining area in Bombana, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. We also examined the factors that might have influenced the toxicity, such as the environmental conditions, sex, and age of the cattle. A total of 63 hair samples were analyzed by particle-induced X-ray emission spectrometry. The mean Hg concentration was significantly higher in hair from cattle farmed within the artisanal and small-scale gold mining area (11.44 µg/g hair) than in those farmed outside the area (2.89 µg/g hair, p < 0.05). A possible cause of this is contamination by mercury persistent in terrestrial food chain. The results indicates that the level of toxic metals such as Hg need to be controlled in food sources to protect human health, especially in Bombana, Indonesia.

Environment Degradation, Health Threats, and Legality at the Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining Sites in Indonesia

“…As listed in Table 3 , there were also incidents of livestock being killed by cyanide poisoning in Pesawaran. Other studies reported that mercury contamination was also present in livestock [ 86 ].…”

Potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals associated with abattoir liquid waste: A narrative and systematic review

“…Hg enters the environment in the form of metallic Hg. The combustion of fossil fuels, burning of wastes, smelting, and mining contribute to about 80% of the aggregate, with volcanoes and forest fires accounting for the rest [ 53 ]. Many countries have designated Hg as a dangerous priority metal and thus have, through the worldwide Minamata Convention, signed an agreement to lower global anthropogenic emissions aimed at addressing various environmental and health issues related to the metal [ 54 ].…”

“…Mohammed et al [ 9 ] reported the presence of Hg in abattoir liquid waste. From another perspective, Sakakibara et al [ 53 ] aver that the Hg that remains in the terrestrial food chain could be a source of Hg pollution in animals. Hg in abattoir liquid waste can be attributed to animals' diet, including contaminated grass or other plants, drinking water, and small amounts of soil.…”

“…Hg in abattoir liquid waste can be attributed to animals' diet, including contaminated grass or other plants, drinking water, and small amounts of soil. According to Sakakibara et al [ 53 ], this is the primary route of metal deposition in their kidneys, liver, bones, hair, and blood. The effects of chronic human exposure to Hg are indicated in Table 2 .…”

Mercury Sorption onto Rice Husk Ash: An Isothermal Remodelling

“…These sorts have varying degrees of impact on human organs such the gastrointestinal tract, the central nervous system, the immune system, the skin, the eyes, and the respiratory system. The amount of mercury released into the environment as a result of human activities, such as the generation of electricity through the processing of industrial waste, the burning of coal, the incineration of waste at homes, and the mining of mercury (along with gold and other metals), has significantly increased [2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”