Int'l Buyat study meets doubt
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta
A Japanese expert on Minamata disease and an environmental expert from the World Health Organization (WHO) are conducting research in Buyat Pantai village in the North Sulawesi regency of Minahasa to determine whether metal poisoning reportedly causing the disease has occurred there.
A group of non-governmental organizations, however, consider the move an effort to whitewash the issue of environmental pollution, saying it had already been determined from blood tests done on several Buyat residents that the mercury level could not cause Minamata disease.
The health ministry said on Monday that Mineshi Sakamoto from the National Institute for Minamata Disease in Japan and WHO senior environmentalist Jan Speets were taking samples of fish and water, as well as blood, hair and nail clippings of residents for laboratory tests to be conducted in Japan.
In a press release made available to The Jakarta Post, the ministry said that two of its own environmental experts, Suprianto and Wan Alkadri, would participate in the research.
"Mineshi will be in Buyat until Aug. 11 before leaving for Jakarta on Aug. 12 and returning to Japan on Aug. 15. Besides taking samples, he will review and evaluate all previous tests," said Director General of Public Health Umar Fahmi.
He said the move was part of the ministry's attempt to eliminate the possibility of Minamata disease.
Jakarta Health Agency laboratory tests conducted on blood samples taken from four Buyat residents on July 28 revealed that resident Rasyid Rahmat had the highest level of mercury at 52.50 micrograms per liter (ug/L), followed by Sri Fika Modeong, Juhria Ratumbahe and Masna Stiman at 51.25 ug/L, 38.75 ug/L and 33.75 ug/L respectively.
Earlier, laboratory tests by MIPA UI showed that mercury levels in the blood of Sri Fika, Juhria, Masna and Rasyid stood at between 9.51 ug/L and 23.90 u/L.
WHO estimates that the average level of mercury content in humans normally stands at 8 ug/L, while in Minamata cases the level reaches between 300 and 500 u/L.
A number of NGOs, including the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), have acknowledged that the residents do not have Minamata disease. However, they stressed that the high level of mercury and ailments the people were suffering indicated serious environmental contamination.
They said that rather than debating the existence of Minamata disease, the government should admit there has been contamination, find the source and seek ways to stop it.
Aside from facilitating the research, Umar also said the health ministry would finance the cost of living of all Buyat residents who were undergoing tests in Jakarta and would provide air tickets for their return home.
The ministry also suggested that other Buyat residents refrain from coming to Jakarta only for medication because the government had provided doctors with various expertise in their village to take care of them for free.
Earlier in the day, the National Police said they would cross- check the results of tests they are conducting with the findings of experts from MIPA UI, Sam Ratulangi University and several NGOs.
"We have heard that many tests have been conducted separately. The results cannot be used as legal evidence unless we accept them," said National Police deputy chief of detectives Insp. Gen. Dadang Garnida.
He said the police would complete their own tests later this week.