Why Mercury Must Stop
Health Risks:
Mercury exposure in ASGM communities causes severe neurological damage, kidney failure & developmental issues, especially in children & fetuses. In Sukabumi, hair samples from miners showed mercury levels far exceeding safe thresholds, with median concentrations of 12.82 µg/g in directly exposed groups, posing risks of chronic poisoning.
In Gorontalo, women using mercury-containing whitening creams alongside ASGM exposure showed symptoms akin to Minamata disease, highlighting community-wide risks.
Environmental Damage:
ASGM is the largest global source of mercury pollution, releasing over 1 million kg annually, with Indonesia being the third-largest emitter after China & India. In 2015, Asean contributed 49% of global mercury emissions, much from ASGM.
Mercury contaminates water, soil & air, bioaccumulating in fish disrupting ecosystems. In Pesawaran, high mercury levels in rivers led to fish deaths & health issues from contaminated food sources.