Kahayan river in South Kalimantan polluted by mercury
Thursday, September 13 2001 - 03:13 AM WIB
The Kahayan river in South Kalimantan has been polluted by mercury and the polluted water in the river could cause minamata disease, according a survey made by a joint team of the environmental impact management agency (Bappedal) and the state owned drinking water company PDAM in the province.
?Based on the survey, the Kahayan river has been polluted by the mercury with a concentration of 0.016 ppm, far higher the tolerable level of 0.001 part per million (ppm),? the chief of Bappedal Sjachril Samad.
The survey by the joint team was conducted in early August. It was the second survey made by the local government after the result of the first one had created controversies.
According to the latest survey, the mercury substance has polluted almost all parts of the river, making the river water hazardous to human health. (*)