Edisi · 03 · Desember · 2006
Showing Concern for the Future
S a l a mEmas
The students at my school have
I hope the whole community will now
learned a lot from the recent
become more aware of the harmful
presentations. They will remem-
effects and also learn to avoid them,
During the last four months, our team in Central
ber all of the information in the
because preventing them is
Kalimantan has been working to provide as much
films, brochures and posters, and
certainly easier than curing them.
useful information about mercury as possible to
avoid mercury from now on.
the entire community of Kereng Pangi. We have
Messages from Students
been working closely with schools, health clinics,
and gold shops in the township, as well as groups
of artisanal miners in the goldfields.
Our team has been providing direct consultation
and advice to users of mercury, delivering practical
training, and distributing a comprehensive set of
brochures. Additionally, we have been reaching out
through radio broadcasts, public film screenings
and educational seminars at schools.
Bpk. Juliwarno, Sp.d., Junior
Aulia Rahmawati, High School
High School Headmaster
Student (SMP 2 Katingan Hilir)
We are having an art competition
The students that visited us, made
so that the students can express
several posters about how mercury
themselves to others. Through
gets into the human body, and about
their art, they will inform their
which fish are safe to eat and which
families, and a lot more people
are not.
will get the message.
I am going to contribute a poster on
I think it is important for the
"The Dangers of Mercury in the
younger generation not to repeat
Environment". It will demonstrate
the mistakes of the past. Although
what a polluted environment is like,
it is difficult to say who might suffer
and also offer a solution. In this way,
Screening a mercury-awareness film.
ill-effects, we do know that the
I want to tell everybody to use less
effects can be long-lasting.
mercury and to learn to use a retort.
Much of the community is now aware of the aim of
this project and we are glad to say, many are also
getting involved in activities that lead to change.
We are very grateful for their participation.
This edition includes a few words from some of
the people who have been providing new
momentum to our program.
Wishing you a healthy and prosperous new year.
Sumali Agrawal
Editor
School-to-school presentations on mercury hazards
Edition · 03 · December· 2006
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Local Knowledge:
An interview with Pak Fauzi
Do you think mercury pollution is a problem in Central
Kalimantan?
Yes. When I first made contact with the Department of Industry, I
found out that around 1 Tonne of mercury is used every month, in
the mining areas of Central Kalimantan alone. That provincial
survey was done in 1995-2003, when the gold price was
increasing rapidly. So I think that mercury is the biggest pollution
problem in Central Kalimantan.
Who in the community do you think is most affected by mercury?
Firstly the miners, gold sellers and buyers, because they deal
with mercury directly; they handle mercury with their bare hands,
and amalgamate gold without gloves. Secondly, the gold shop
owners, because they burn amalgam in their shops, although
sometimes miners do burn it in the field as well, without protection,
and it evaporates into the air. The neighbors and the community
around the gold shops and the mining areas are affected too,
indirectly, because mercury vapors pollute the air in the
environment.
Why did you decide to introduce retorts to Kalteng?
Pak Fauzi (right) demonstrates a filter to a gold shop
At first, it was for economic reasons, because I wanted to re-use
mercury and I found I could capture 90 ­ 95% of it in my retort.
Mercury is quite expensive and so it is good if it can be recycled
Did you discover anything new during our campaign?
and reused. I had used a simple bowl made of stainless steel for
Yes, especially about the health impacts of mercury
five years, and then, when I introduced my retort to the Department
exposure. I didn't have this information until I followed
of Industry they agreed that it was a solution that we could use to
the campaign, and it is very useful. It is new to miners
reduce mercury distribution and its impact on the community.
and gold shop owners in Galangan and Kereng Pangi
They recommended the retort to the Maspion Company.
too. They are now more aware, and tend to be more
careful with how they handle mercury daily. I also
Do the people that buy retorts usually understand that mercury is
discovered how to improve an ordinary fumehood with
dangerous?
a blower, which I think is an effective solution for gold
No. They usually buy retorts for economic reasons. I myself didn't
shops in Kereng Pangi, because it is affordable, and
know about the health impacts at first. From 1995-2000, I had no
they don't need to change very much, all they have to
idea that mercury can affect people's health. Later, when I got
do is adjust the current fumehood and add a blower
more information about this, it strengthened my reasons for
and a filter.
wanting to use a retort.
How do you think we can improve our campaign?
What prevents people from using retorts more?
In my opinion, the current campaign is good; the
Mostly because they don't know about them, or because they are
campaigners have made major efforts to promote the
just small-scale miners and they get a small amount of gold
issue. But now people really want to see the evidence;
everyday. But gold shops usually use them.
they want to use the simple technology and prove it
works. So, refitting fumehoods with blowers and filters
What advice do you have for gold shop operators?
is an opportunity for this information in the campaign to
I would advise them to use a fumehood with a blower: it is more
be proven, because we did visit gold shops, and almost
effective, it is safer for their health, the miners can still see the
all of them were interested in these techniques. As for
burning process, and the owner can capture the mercury too.
the health issues, I think most of the community now
understands, and the information will lead to better
practices in handling mercury.
02
Edition · 03· December · 2006

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How to Re-Activate and Re-Use Mercury
· To agglomerate the mercury droplets, put them in a plastic or glass cup.
· Add water and a spoon of table salt to the mercury.
· Connect the negative pole of a 12-volt battery to the mercury directly.
· Connect the positive pole to the water, not in contact with the mercury.
· The droplets will come together in 2 or 3 minutes.
· This mercury is now re-activated and ready to be used.
A Doctor's View
A Gold Shop Operator's Report
I think the campaign is good
I think the campaign has been
for the future of the town,
reasonably successful so far in
especially for the children. For
educating people about the
example, I used to let my kids
dangers of mercury. I am
watch when I was burning
involved because I am part of
amalgam, but not anymore. I
this community and I believe it
used to smoke while I was
is important for people to know
burning too, but I don't do that
about the health impacts.
anymore either.
Although we have not
witnessed any so far it doesn't
I am worried about developing
mean we won't in the future.
symptoms of exposure
That is why we will continue to
because I want a long life but I
work to reduce it, to try and
don't want to be an invalid
prevent the problem before it
when I get older. I decided to
occurs.
get involved for the sake of my
own health as well as those
It is true that the level of mercury
Pak Jonito using a fumehood
around me, like the vegetable
in the air is at a harmful level in
sellers in front.
this town. This could affect the
development of babies and
With a good fumehood that doesn't leak, I hope I will be able to
children here. Mothers with
recover more mercury and will be able to sell it again. Maybe
babies should keep away from
one day I can recover all the mercury I burn. I would like to keep
the gold-burning activities, and
using this new chimney because it has a blower, although I
Dr Robert advising students
make sure their children don't
think it could be a bit taller and should have a smaller opening
play around with mercury.
at the front.
I am glad to be getting this information about mercury and to
It is possible that some people, such as long-time miners or
be getting this help and to be trying to make our gold-burning
gold shop operators, might already be affected. These people
processes safer.
should follow our advice about how to store mercury safely, and
how to use it more wisely.
Advice From The Clinic
Mercury that has been used
However, all of this mercury
to throw it away. Always store
can look black due to "oxida-
can be used again if it is reac-
mercury in a glass or plastic
tion" and can break apart to
tivated, following the steps
container with a little water,
form thousands of small
above. All mercury should be
and keep it in a safe place far
drops or dust particles.
recycled because it is not safe
from children.
Edition · 03 · December · 2006
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The Growing Problem of Methyl-Mercury
These large fish are then also
consumed in great quantities
by people and as a result,
methyl-mercury contamination
is now a public health risk to
children and women of child-
bearing age throughout the
entire world. It is possible that
people who eat large
carnivorous fish more than
once a month may accumulate
unhealthy levels of methyl-
mercury inside their body.
However, smaller river fish
usually have much lower
levels, and fish that are hand-
fed in ponds are unlikely to be
contaminated at all. These
fish can be considered safe to
eat on a regular basis.
Fish are an important source of protein for a family's diet
Mercury enters the ecosystem
In rivers, this natural element
through different pathways,
can change into methyl-
and our bodies can ingest it in
mercury, which is extremely
different forms. Communities
toxic to living organisms.
Ikan Baung: a common, large carnivorous fish
living in contaminated
This widespread form of
surroundings can be exposed
Through a process known as
contamination exists as a
to mercury through skin
`bioaccumulation', the larger
result of mercury entering the
contact and inhalation of
fish residing in the ecosystem
ecosystems of rivers and
contaminated air.
slowly accumulate high levels
oceans.
of contamination.
However, elemental mercury
When methyl-mercury enters
released into the environment
This is because these large
the bodies of aquatic
as a result of mining
fish consume substantial
organisms, it enters the food-
processes can also be
amounts of smaller fish that
chain and is transferred
transported great distances by
are also contaminated at
through ingestion.
water.
lower levels.
Published by.
Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta
Rumah Emas Kita is a
Staf Redaksi
Jl. Teuku Umar No. 32 A
bi-monthly newsletter to
Palangka Raya 73112
provide information of
Bardolf Paul
Central Kalimantan - Indonesia
UNIDO Global Mercury
Sumali Agrawal
Phone. +62 (536) 32 37184
Project in Galangan-
Dzul Fikri Al Huda
Fax. +62 (536) 32 29187
Central Kalimantan
Mayang Meilantina
Email: tambuhaksinta@gmail.com
Kartie Vitamerry
04
Edition · 03· December · 2006

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