Press Release: Expert clarifies confusion over acceptable mercury levels in blood

Jakarta, August 2, 2004 ? The results of tests conducted to determine blood mercury levels among residents of Buyat Bay, North Sulawesi that have been made available to the public by the NGO sector and a number of commentators are within the normal range for a coastal fish-eating population.

According to Dr. Keith Bentley, a former World Health Organization (WHO) Adviser in Environmental Health, there has been confusion about the criteria used to determine ?normal?, or acceptable, blood mercury levels. ?There is, in fact, no international ?standard? for mercury levels in blood. The figure of 8 micrograms per Liter (?g/L) misreported by various commentators and in several media reports as being the blood mercury limit, is actually the mean value for the global population.?

Dr. Bentley added, ?This does not take into account the different food intake among various communities. There has been an error of interpretation in these tests, as the results have not taken into account that Buyat Bay is a coastal fish-eating community.?

?It is universally acknowledged that coastal communities that eat a lot of fish naturally have higher mercury levels in their blood. For example, the average value of mercury in blood from an extensive global study (1990) of high fish-eating communities was 44 ?g/L. A review of ninety-seven international studies gave a 95 percentile level of 83 ?g/L,? Dr. Bentley explained.

A report published by WHO in Geneva in 1990 that references examples of mercury concentrations in people with high fish consumption shows that blood mercury levels range from 1- 60 ?g/L in Canada; 1 - 40 ?g/L in the Netherlands; 44 - 550 ?g/L in Sweden; 1.1 - 42 ?g/L in the United Kingdom; and 1.2 - 9.6 ?g/L in Yugoslavia. (See Chart 1 below).

The recently released results for mercury in blood from four Buyat Bay people alleged to have Minamata disease were reported to range from 9.51 to 23.90 ?g/L (Puska RKL Press Release 29/07/04), which is well within the normal range for a coastal fish eating community, and well below levels that would indicate potential Minamata disease.

The results of extensive fish sampling and analysis over eight years in the waters of Buyat Bay have clearly shown the average sample fish populations are markedly below WHO and internationally accepted mercury levels for food consumption and are comparable to extensive global mean data. (See Chart 2 below)

According to Mr. Richard Ness, President Director of PT Newmont Minahasa Raya (NMR), ?We remain absolutely confident that mine tailings have not contaminated the waters and fish in Buyat Bay, as has been maliciously alleged. We are intensely concerned about the social and economic impact being experienced across the community and as far as Manado, and hope this will be resolved soon for the sake of local communities.?

Mr. Ness added, ?NMR asks there be more detailed and comprehensive testing of the whole community using internationally accepted methodologies and reference ranges to ensure we gain a true picture of what is happening. Future tests would benefit from the selection of a control group among other high fish consuming coastal populations to ensure that the results can be viewed in the proper context. We also reaffirm our position that we are ready to support the government in any way.? (End of release)

For further information, please contact:
Kasan Mulyono / Rubi Purnomo
Public Relations Manager
PT Newmont Minahasa Raya
Phone: (021) 5799 4600
Mobile: KM ? 081757 49482 / RP ? 0811 940 399