On April 2014, we discussed about small scale gold mining. As we know that small scale gold mining was booming at Halimun Salak area several decades ago. People use mercury and cyanide for gold processing. To discuss about impact of mercury and cyanide also their alternative solution, Ms.Rini Sulaiman from US Forest Service and Advisory Board of Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta as resource person. Discussion conducted on April 7, 2014 at RMI Office. Besides internal staff of RMI, there were representative from Board of RMI and Halimun Salak Mount National Park Office Unit Bogor.
Rini Sulaiman described that mercury (Hg) which is 13.6 x heavier than water, common use as dental amalgam materials, lamps, termometer, preservatif for contact lens, also using at crematorium. Mercury sold freely in the market even through the internet. Holding capacity of mercury in gold about 40-50%. Mercury expose from vapor emissions in general which formed through amalgam[1] combustion; this materials will stick on body and when inhaled mercury will absorbed by our lungs then spread by blood to various body organs (brain and kidney are highest mercury concentration). Mercury is very dangerous especially for pregnant women and children, mercury could channeled from mother to her baby via placenta. Mercury also will be accumulated on predator fish (for the bigger fish, mercury concentration is higher).
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Kuliah Singkat RMI bulan April ini membahas tentang tambang emas rakyat. Seperti diketahui bahwa tambang emas rakyat (PESK/Penambangan Emas Skala Kecil) begitu marak di kawasan Halimun Salak. Bahan yang digunakan oleh penambang untuk mengolah emas adalah merkuri dan cyanida. Untuk membahas tentang dampak merkuri dan cyanida serta alternatif solusinya, Rini Sulaiman dari US Forest Service dan Advisory Board Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta, sebagai narasumber. Acara ini dilakukan pada hari Senin tanggal 7 April 2014 di kantor RMI. Peserta diskusi selain tim internal RMI, juga ada perwakilan Dewan Pengurus RMI dan TNGHS Seksi Bogor.
Rini Sulaiman menjelaskan bahwa merkuri (Hg) yang 13.6 x lebih berat dari air, umum digunakan sebagai bahan amalgam gigi, lampu, termometer, preservatif cairan lensa kontak dan digunakan juga di krematorium rumah sakit. Merkuri dijual bebas di pasaran bahkan melalui internet pun bisa dibeli. Daya ikat merkuri pada emas 40-50%. Paparan merkuri pada umumnya dari emisi uap merkuri yang terbentuk dari pembakaran amalgam; ini akan melekat di badan (lengket) dan ketika dihirup merkuri diserap paru-paru dan disebarkan oleh aliran darah ke berbagai organ (otak dan ginjal yang paling tinggi konsentrasinya). Merkuri sangat berbahaya terutama bagi perempuan hamil dan anak-anak, tersalur dari ibu ke janin dalam kandungan melalui plasenta. Merkuri juga terakumulasi dalam badan ikan predator (makin besar ikan predator, konsentrasi merkuri makin banyak). […]