Kapuas River polluted by mercury

The Kapuas river, the longest and largest river in Kalimantan island, has been polluted by mercury from the illegal mining activities in the river's banks, and this could harm the health of the people living in the river's surrounding areas.

A researcher at the Tanjungpura University, Mardan Adijaya, MSc, Phd, said the mercury pollution level at the Kapuas river has reached an alarming level, especially because many people living in the river's banks still use water in the river for their daily needs, including bathing, laundry and transportation.

"That happens because illegal mining activities continue to occur uncontrolled and even tend to increase in the upstream areas of the river," Mardan said.

He said a number of researches both by local and foreign researchers had proved that the river was polluted by mercury but the research results were not communicated to the people living around the river.

He said the level of mercury pollution in the river had exceeded the normal level, and mercury content of around 0.001 ppm.

"At that level, it is categorized as dangerous. The maximum level of mercury content should be at 0.00025 ppm," he said.

Mardan said that not only mercury that polluted Kapuas river. It is also polluted by other chemical substance benzene, chlordane, cyanide, dioxin, and pathogens.

He called on the government to tighten control and supervision against illegal mining operations in the river's surrounding areas. (*)