International Journal of Waste Resources

Abstract

Inventory of Water Bird Species Which Accumulate Mercury from Mining Waste in Coastal Area North Gorontalo Regency, Indonesia

Ramli Utina and Abubakar Sidik Katili

Illegal gold mining has waste that still containing mercury (Hg), and then discharged into the rivers and coastal area also. Mercury in ecosystem aquatic has influence to the food chain of the water birds. The objective of this research was to inventory the water birds species in the coastal areas, and describe the exposure of mercury in the organ of birds. This research conducted to the coastal region of North Gorontalo regency. Collecting data of water birds was in the Buladu and Ilangata coastal area. Data analysis to concentration mercury in the body of the water birds using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) on samples of the kidneys, liver and muscle chest tissue. This study find out four species of water birds in the coastal habitat, also mercury concentrations exposure in the organs of each species, namely: (1) Butorides striatus, exposure of mercury 0.22 ppm in the kidneys, 0.17 ppm in the liver, and 12.12 ppm in the muscle; (2) Tringa melanoleuca, exposure of mercury 0.43 ppm in the kidney, 0.31 ppm in the liver, and 0.31 ppm in the muscle; (3) Actitis hypoleucos, exposure of mercury 0.19 ppm in the kidney, 0.18 ppm liver, 0.10 ppm in the muscle; (4) Pluvialis squatarola, exposure of mercury 0.11 ppm in the kidney, 0.10 ppm in liver, 0.10 ppm in the muscle. These researches have indicated that there was water pollution in the river, also mercury in food chain of birds living. This research hopefully strengthening the scientific knowledge in addressing to the environmental crisis, threats the bird’s biodiversity, also would be use by policy maker for natural resources development, as well community empowerment.