Expert warns of mercury poisoning after stillborn baby case
Saturday, September 23 2000 - 03:00 AM WIB
A forensic expert of North Sulawesi warned the province's people of mercury poisoning caused by mining activities, citing a recent case in a village of the province where a woman gave birth to a deformed baby who died shortly after birth.
"Although we have yet to ascertain the cause of the baby's death, the case is a phenomenon we have to care about. Because, thalidomide is one of the symptoms indicating chronic mercury poisoning," Dr. Leonard Ratulangi of the Sam Ratulangi University was quoted by Manado Post as saying on Thursday.
The baby, identified as Fransiscus Soukota, was born on June 21 this year in Tatelu Rondor, Dimembe district, which is one of the main illegal mining centers in the province.
He was born with only one finger and five toes and abnormal shape of stomach. The baby died four days after birth.
The paper quoted by the baby's father John Suokota as admitting his wife Femmy Aminula was involved in the illegal gold mining activities in the area.
He said his wife sold food at the mining sites and sometimes took part in processing gold ore with mercury during her pregnancy.
The baby was born in the local health center but was later taken to the Manado provincial hospital for examination. However, the Manado hospital has yet to ascertain the cause of the death. (*)