Edition · 01 · August · 2006
Global Mercury Project A second training event, September
7th and 8th, prior to the project launch
The GMP is an innovative initiative
will ensure trainers have the
seeking to reduce mercury
necessary skills and knowledge to
emissions from artisanal gold
demonstrate alternatives to people
Greetings
mining. With major projects in
living in the town and the goldfields.
mining areas of six participating
Welcome to all readers of
countries - Zimbabwe, Tanzania,
The launch at Kereng Pangi on
this first issue of "Rumah
Sudan, Brazil, Indonesia and Lao
September 9th is a public event
Emas Kita", keeping you
PDR - the GMP is in the process of
intended to raise the level of
up-to-date on the progress
introducing cleaner technologies,
awareness in the community about
of the Global Mercury
training miners, strengthening
the project and its aims, and it will
Project in Central
governance, developing regulatory
be an opportunity for key figures
Kalimantan.
mechanisms, and building the
from the community and
capacity of local laboratories and
government to show leadership
By now, people in Kereng
health authorities to monitor
and support for the campaign.
Pangi might be thinking
mercury pollution. GMP project
about two new billboards
sites were selected based on the
Immediately afterwards, trainers
we put up recently. These
importance of small-scale mining
will commence with community
herald the start of our Awareness Campaign and
in these regions and the proximity
consultation, in both the town and
their purpose is to make people in the town realize
of communities to international
the goldfields. They will provide
that Mercury pollution is dangerous. When the
waters that may be impacted by
advice, information and guidance
whole community is aware of the health impacts,
mercury.
on health issues related to mercury
we can act together to reduce them.
exposure and intoxication, as well
The GMP is jointly supported by the
as on other health concerns.
To raise this new awareness, we are also
Global Environment Facility (GEF),
providing booklets to help miners and gold shops
United Nations Development
In the field, trainers shall also show
use mercury more safely, posters and flyers to
Programme (UNDP) and is
miners how they can "use less
make the public more aware of the risks, and even
executed by the United Nations
mercury and get more gold" using
stickers for school children. These focus not only
Industrial Development
simple technology. The project also
on the problem of Mercury pollution, but also on
Organization (UNIDO).
aims to train gold shop operators
the solutions.
The main solution lies in more responsible
behavior ­ people can change the way they use
Mercury, to safeguard community health. Our
project aims to stop Mercury emissions at their
source. Mercury pollution is not something people
have to live with, it is a problem that can be solved.
Sumali Agrawal
Editor
Pak Fauzi demonstrates the use of the Fauzi Retort
Training of Trainers
directly, as to how they can install
water and charcoal filter systems
Project training began in Rungan
that will prevent the emission of
Sari in February 2006. UNIDO
mercury fumes into the urban
trained representatives from the
environment.
Departments of Mining,
Environment, Education, and
Health, as well as those from
several NGO's.
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Contributor's Column
Mercury evaporation from burning activities produces
The following is a summary of a study produced by WALHI over
mercuric vapor in the air, which falls to the ground
a three year period
with rainwater, contaminating lakes, rivers and
oceans. Most of this mercury deposition sticks to
sediments and some is transformed into the highly
In the last ten years, the problem of mercury contamination in
toxic form of methyl mercury, by small organisms
Central Kalimantan has been increasing as the waste from
and bacteria. Snails and small shrimps then absorb
artisanal mining continues to flow into major rivers like the
methyl mercury from sediment and water. Fish that
Mentaya, Kahayan and Katingan. There has been conflict about
consume these contaminated snails and shrimps
this since 1996, but it has since diminished. However, it arose
or other fish, will accumulate high levels of methyl
again in 2002, and is likely to become a hot discussion topic
mercury. Methyl mercury dissolves easily in water,
once again in the future.
and harms both respiratory functions and the
metabolic system.
According to The Environment Department of Kotawaringin
Timur, mercury emissions come from illegal mining along the
For miners in the field, mercury exposure occurs
Katingan River. Here, mining practices were first started by PT.
mostly from skin contact, breathing fumes, and
Ampalit Mas Perdana, and when the company was closed, the
eating contaminated fish. For the general
local community took over the operation. By 2001, there were
population, exposure is most likely from eating
6000 miners working in this area. During the period from 2002
contaminated fish and breathing mercury fumes
to 2003, there were 5196 units of artisanal mining along 11
from nearby gold shops during the burning of
major rivers in Central Kalimantan. About 40 percent of the total
amalgam.
mercury used by miners is released out to rivers when they
use a sluice box and burn amalgam.
Mercury exposure can produce many adverse health
symptoms. The major health concern of mercury
The river in the worst condition is the Kahayan River. Out of a
vapor poisoning is the brain, central nervous system
total of 2,264 units in Central Kalimantan, 1,563 of them are
and kidneys. Inhaling the mercury vapor can cause
located along the Kahayan River, with a total of 1.5 tons of
lung irritation, difficulty in breathing and chest pain,
mercury emitted in just three months. The amount of mercury
pneumonia and kidney failure.
in fish taken from Kapuas River averages 0.22 ppm, exceeding
the safe range defined by DPOM (Food and Health Monitoring
Pregnant mothers can pass the methyl mercury to
Department), which is 0.04 ppm.
the unborn fetus through the placenta. This can
impair the brain and organs of the developing
People who burn mercury to get gold from amalgam are
tissues and cause retardation or even death.
especially threatened by mercury exposure. When the body
Exposed babies and young children can develop
ingests more mercury than the normal amount, various health
learning difficulties or reduced IQ later on.
problems result, especially if it contaminates the body in the
form of methyl mercury.
There are several ways to reduce mercury
emissions from artisanal mining. The first thing we
can do is to use a method that doesn't harm the
environment, such as a closed system for the
amalgamation process. This reduces the amount
of mercury released to the ground and air. Another
intervention is to give explanations and training to
miners, to control the further release of mercury into
the environment.
Yuanita Oktaviana
Artisanal mining on the Kahayan River
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Working Safely with Mercury
Avoid direct contact when working with mercury. Always
Do not eat or smoke when using mercury.
use rubber gloves.
Do tell others what they should or should not do then
Always store mercury in tightly closed containers (but not
using mercury.
in Aluminum containers).
Never burn mercury or amalgam* indoors or in any
Always put a layer of water on top of the mercury unless it
enclosed room.
is activated mercury.
If you must burn amalgam do it in the outdoors or a
Avoid spilling mercury. It is very difficult to clean up.
well-ventilated space.
If you must use mercury, try to use as little as possible.
Always stand upwind when burning amalgam. Do not
breathe the fumes.
* Amalgam: mercury mixed with gold particles
The Aim of the Project As the project uses a mobile Other simple technology can shall build that capacity through
demonstration unit, we can visit
also prevent the release of Mer-
demonstrations of simple tech-
Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta is
miners where they work. This
cury into the environment. Ro-
nology, using locally manufac-
implementing a Social Market-
way, a variety of technical op-
tating amalgamation drums will
tured equipment that can be
ing Campaign aimed at raising
tions for gold concentration,
demonstrate how to recycle and
easily supplied.
public awareness about Mer-
amalgamation and retorting
reuse Mercury. Mercury-free
cury. Mercury harms not only
can be demonstrated directly to
technology includes use of an
In this way, we shall promote
those who use it, but the sur-
miners. Miners can then select
elutriation column and a mag-
health-seeking behaviors and
rounding community as well.
what is affordable and appro-
netic strip to separate heavy
give the local people the capac-
Therefore, we aim to provide
priate to their needs and re-
minerals.
ity to deal with this issue and
education and training to health
sources.
improve their livelihoods at the
workers, government repre-
Once they are aware of the risks
same time.
sentatives, miners, teachers,
To get more gold using less
they face, mercury-users can
men, women and children.
mercury, miners must change
improve their technology. We
the way they concentrate and
In addition, the project aims to
separate gold from sand. Thus,
provide miners with training to
we will demonstrate with equip-
improve the processes they
ment designed to improve each
use, both to get more gold and
stage of the process. For ex-
to use less mercury. Experience
ample, by adding simple de-
has shown that miners are
sign features to a sluice-box to
more likely to adopt a "cleaner"
capture more gold. With simple
technology if it results in greater
adaptations to existing technol-
economic returns. Therefore,
ogy, miners can get more gold
one aim is to give miners the
from their location, so they need
information they need to get a
not move around, looking for
better yield of gold from their
new locations.
worksite. Furthermore, to in-
form them how to use mercury
The project focus is on reduc-
safely, to protect themselves
ing exposure to vapor by intro-
and the environment we all de-
ducing recycling techniques
pend on.
such as locally-made retorts.
The Fauzi Retort: a locally-made retort
Advice from the Clinic
easily excreted from the body. If
slowly produce toxic
you ingest a large amount of
symptoms, like loss of vision.
Mercury, like all heavy metals
Mercury it will stay in your body
There is no cure for Mercury
is toxic. It behaves just like
for a long time and damage
poisoning, the only solution
other heavy metals such as
your organs and your nervous
is not to let it escape into the
Lead, Copper, Arsenic, or Zinc.
system. If you ingest a little
air we breathe. Therefore we
Heavy metals have the
Mercury each day it will
must stop the emissions and
characteristic of not being
accumulate in your body and
use it more carefully.
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Can We Give Our Children A Clean Environment to Live in?
Gold mining has been a
A pipe retort is quite efficient,
traditional activity in
with 95% of the Mercury
Kalimantan for generations.
condensing inside the pipe,
However, it is the pumping
almost all of the Mercury can
technology of sluice
be used again.
operations that is causing
widespread damage to the
Burning amalgam in a retort
environment. As a result,
is best done outdoors in the
artisanal miners trying to
field far away from other
make a living today are
destroying the living
environment of tomorrow.
Many people in Kalimantan
realize there are problems
with the rivers and the
landscape as a result of the
restless search for gold.
Fewer people realize that
there is also a dangerous
pollutant that is released
through these activities.
Retorts
people. However, because it
is often done in an urban
Around 250kg of Gold is
environment, we have
recovered every year at the
emissions can be prevented.
The edge of this bowl can be
considered how to improve
Galangan project site, at the
Furthermore, if people use
sealed with sand, to trap all the
the situation with improved
same time around 500kg of
retorts, they can re-use their
Mercury gas.
technology. For example, a
Mercury is vaporized every
mercury.
simple fumehood design,
year and released as
Pipe retorts can be made from
uses a blower to suck the
e n v i r o n m e n t a l
One simple type of retort traps
iron or stainless steel fittings.
gas out of the burning
contamination. It can be said
Mercury inside three kitchen
The Mercury is burned inside a
chamber and to blow it into a
that technology will be
bowls. A hole in the biggest
large screw-cap which is fitted
water tank below. The exit
beneficial if it is used wisely.
bowl makes a place for a small
to a bent pipe.
pipe of the tank is also sealed
enamel burning bowl. A third
with a carbon filter to stop any
For example, if people use
bowl placed upside-down
The Mercury condenses inside
of the gas escaping. Such a
closed retorts to burn
inside the big bowl, allows the
the pipe and drips down into a
simple unit is affordable, and
mercury, 95% of the
gas to condense inside.
container of water.
if the mercury is reused, it will
soon pay for itself.
Published by
Rumah Emas Kita is a
Editorial Staff
Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta
bi-monthly newsletter of
Jl. Teuku Umar No. 32 A
The Global Mercury
Bardolf Paul
Palangka Raya 73112
Project in Central
Sumali Agrawal
Kalimantan Tengah - Indonesia
Kalimantan
Dzul Fikri Al Huda
Phone. +62 (536) 32 37184
Mayang Meilantina
Fax. +62 (536) 32 29187
Kartie Vitamerry
Email: tambuhaksinta@gmail.com
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