Mercury pollutes C. Kalimantan rivers<\/p>\n
PALANGKA RAYA, Central Kalimantan: Seven out of 11 large rivers
\nin Central Kalimantan are contaminated with mercury used by
\nillegal miners, highlighting the environmental cost of allowing
\nthe illegal business to expand.<\/p>\n
The affected rivers include the province's main river Barito,
\nas well as the Kapuas, Kahayan, Rungan, Katingan, Arut and
\nSekonyer rivers, Central Kalimantan governor Asmawi Agani said on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
He said the pollution levels of these rivers had reached two
\nto seven times the normal amount of 0.001 milligram per liter.<\/p>\n
Mercury is used to separate valuable minerals like gold from
\nrocks and dirt. The chemical is popular among illegal miners, who
\noften use dangerous levels of mercury. In the long run, it could
\ndisrupt blood circulation, damage the nervous system and cause
\ncancer in those coming into direct contact with the mineral.<\/p>\n
Governor Asmawi added that illegal miners also dump dirt from
\nmines, or the mining tailing, into rivers. Consequently, he said,
\nlarge ships might not be able to pass through some parts of the
\nrivers that have become too shallow.<\/p>\n
Illegal mining mushroomed in Sumatra and Kalimantan after the
\nfall of president Soeharto in 1998 slackened law enforcement. Hit
\nby the economic crisis, villagers encroached the mining areas of
\nlegal mining companies in order to survive.<\/p>\n
The illegal business often has the backing of capitalists in
\nJava, who are accused of paying authorities to turn a blind eye.
\n-- Antara<\/p>",
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