To clarify the human health risk of inhalation of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), we measured GEM concentrations in three artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas of Palu (Central Sulawesi, 342 000 residents), Muara Aman (Benkulu in Sumatra, about 1000 residents), and Palangka Raya (Central Kalimantan, 236 000 residents). These sites differed with regard to the scale and method of gold mining (ball mill and dredging systems). Although the scale of ASGM activity at these three sites differed for both the ball mill and dredging methods, gold amalgams were always made during the refining process. The air in these cities was therefore polluted by the mercury used in extracting the gold, although the levels of pollution differed. The highest GEM concentrations were measured at gold shops (5 × 10⁵ ng m⁻³). In the ASGM activity area, the measured GEM concentrations were high (100–14 000 ng m⁻³) near grinding drums. GEM concentrations in Palu and Palangka Raya ranged from 2.06 to 375 ng m⁻³ and 2.04 to 25.3 ng m⁻³, respectively. GEM concentrations within an ASGM community area in Muara Aman ranged from 4.10 to 11.5 ng m⁻³. Our results indicated that the health of residents of Palu—not only in the ASGM area but also in the city—may be at risk due to GEM inhalation. In Muara Aman, the health of people who engage in gold refining and of gold shop employees may be at risk, whereas the health of residents of Palangka Raya appears not to be at risk.

Penelitian ini dilaksakan pada bulan Oktober 2023 di Pasar Besar Kota Palangka Raya, Kalimantan Tengah dengan tujuan untuk mengetahui kandungan merkuri dalam daging ikan patin, nila dan baung dan mengetahui resiko kesehatan akibat mengkonsumsi ikan yang terkontaminasi oleh merkuri. Sampel ikan masing-masing berjumlah 6 (enam) ekor yang dibeli dari penjual ikan dipasar yang berbeda. Analisis kandungan merkuri dalam daging ikan dilakukan di Laboratorium Balai Penerapan Mutu Hasil Perikanan, Banjarbaru-Kalimantan Selatan dengan mengirimkan sampel ikan secara utuh dan seluruh proses persiapan hingga annalisis dilakukan oleh laboratorium tersebut. Berdasarkan hasil analisis, kandungan merkuri dalam ikan patin dan nila dibawah LOD yaitu kurang dari 0,0225 mg/kg, sedangkan kandungan merkuri dalam daging ikan baung (untuk lima sampel) rata-rata adalah 0,216 mg/kg. Dengan menggunakan nilai kandungan merkuri yang terdapat dalam daging ikan baung, maka jumlah asupan merkuri yang masuk ke dalam tubuh adalah sebesar 0,0021 mg/kg/hari. Berdasarkan jumlah asupan merkuri yang masuk dalam tubuh tersebut, Hazard Index (HI) dapat dihitung. HI 1 yaitu 20,73, yang berarti bahwa konsumsi ikan baung yang mengandung merkuri tersebut dapat berdampak terhadap kesehatan.

Mercury is a hazardous chemical that significantly impacts both the environment and human health. In Central Kalimantan, gold mining activities contribute to mercury contamination, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. Lake Lais, an oxbow lake along the Kahayan River, is potentially affected by mercury from upstream mining activities. This study aims to assess mercury contamination in Lake Lais water and sediment, and evaluate the ecological risks associated with mercury pollution. In September 2024, water and sediment samples were collected from five sites in Lais Lake. Water samples were collected from the surface using polypropylene bottles with added nitric acid to preserve mercury content. Sediment samples were taken using an Ekman grab and analyzed for mercury using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) at Balai Standarisasi Pelayanan Jasa Industri in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan. The results showed that water mercury concentrations ranged from 0.00 to 0.002 mg/l, which is within the limits set by the Indonesian government (PP No. 22/2021). However, sediment mercury levels ranged from 0.14 to 0.47 mg/kg, which can negatively impact the ecosystem based on international standards. Lais Lake was classified as having mild to moderate mercury contamination, with an ecological risk ranging from moderate to very strong. The Risk Quotient (RQ) exceeded 1, indicating high ecological risk. These findings highlight the need for regular monitoring and stricter regulation of mercury use in mining. Future research should focus on long-term impacts and seasonal variations in mercury levels to better assess ecological risks.

The purpose of this research is to look at how the chemical properties of the water affect the development of the climbing perch's (Anabas testudineus) gonadal stage in peat swamp water. The study took place in Tanjung Taruna, a peat swamp in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Water quality parameters measured included pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrite (NO₂⁻), and nitrate (NO₃⁻). Fish samples were collected from three observation stations during an eight-week sampling period, and gonad maturity stages were determined using morphological observation. A total of 772 fish specimens were examined. The majority of individuals were classified at TKG stage III, while smaller proportions were observed at stages II and IV, indicating that most of the sampled population was at an intermediate stage of gonadal development. The measured water parameters reflected typical peat swamp conditions, with pH ranging from 4.25 to 6.30, dissolved oxygen from 3.3 to 5.1 mg/L, nitrite from 0.2 to 0.4 mg/L, and nitrate from 0.3 to 0.7 mg/L. Correlation analysis showed that pH, DO, nitrite, and nitrate did not have statistically significant relationships with the gonadal maturity stage of climbing perch at any of the observation stations (p > 0.05). These results indicate that the variations in the measured water chemical parameters were still within the ecological tolerance range of the species and did not significantly influence gonadal maturation during the study period. The results provide baseline information on the reproductive condition of Anabas testudineus and the characteristics of peat swamp water environments, which may be useful for supporting aquaculture development and management in peat swamp ecosystems.

Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Danau Sabuah yang berada di Desa Tuwung, Kecamatan Kahayan Tengah, Kabupaten Pulang Pisau yang dilaksankan pada dilaksanakan pada bulan April dan Mei 2024 untuk menentukan status mutu air Danau Sabuah dengan menggunakan metode storet. Paramater kualitas air yang dipilih untuk keperluan penentuan status mutu air tersebut terdiri dari paramater Suhu, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Total Suspended Solid (TSS), pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Nitrat dan Fosfat. Pengambilan sampel air dan pengukuranl parameter kualitas air dilakukan pada tiga titik stasiun ( Stasiun I, Stasiun II dan Stasiun III) selama empat kali pengambilan sampel dengan interval waktu satu minggu. Beberapa parameter kualitas air seperti suhu, pH, dan TDS dilakukan pengukuran secara langsung di lapangan. Namun, parameter seperti TSS, BOD, Nitrat dan Fosfat dianalisis di Laboratorium Kesehatan Daerah Provinsi Kalimantan Tengah. Berdasarkan hasil yang didapatkan bahwa status mutu air Danau Sabuah sudah tercemar hingga tercemar berat dengan skor total pada stasiun I adalah -38 dengan status tercemar berat, selanjutnya pada stasiun II mendapat skor -43 dengan status tercemar berat, dan untuk stasiun III mendapat skor -42 yang juga masuk kedalam golongan tercemar berat