Tests find arsenic in residents' blood
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta
Laboratory tests by the Jakarta Health Agency found that the blood of four Buyat residents in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, contained high levels of mercury and arsenic.
The results confirmed earlier laboratory tests the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Indonesia (MIPA UI) performed on the four -- Rasyid Rahmat, 38; Sri Fika Modeong, 21 months; Juhria Ratumbahe, 42; and Masna Stiman, 39.
In a statement issued on July 28 but made available to the press on Friday, the Jakarta Health Agency said Rasyid's blood contained the highest mercury level at 52.50 microgram per liter (ug/L), followed by Sri (51.25 ug/L), Juhria (38.75 ug/L) and Masna (33.75 ug/L).
A microbiology expert from the Office of the State Minister for Research and Technology, Amin Soebandrio, said a mercury level of over 30 u/L could affect the nervous system and could cause symptoms such as imbalance and fainting.
"However, it must be remembered that the mercury level in the blood is unstable. That is why the test results are still inconclusive, as the mercury level found in their hair was far lower," he said.
Amin also could not conclude whether the symptoms displayed by the four Buyat residents were related to the their mercury levels.
Most of the four have developed swelling on various parts of their bodies. Other have complained of headaches, nausea and cramps.
Aside from mercury, the tests also found that the urine of Masna and Rasyid contained arsenic. Masna had 85.63 parts per million (ppm) and Rasyit 188.13 ppm in their urine.
The laboratory tests, however, did not find significant levels of mercury in the hair and nails of the four residents.
Earlier laboratory tests by MIPA UI found mercury levels in the blood of Sri, Juhria, Masna and Rasyid between 9.51 ug/L and 23.90 u/L.
An expert on dangerous chemicals at MIPA UI, Budiawan, who performed these earlier tests, said his results and those of the Jakarta Health Agency showed the residents' blood was contaminated with mercury and arsenic.
"This level of mercury is not supposed to be there. This mercury must have come from the environment because normally our body does not have such a high level of this toxic chemical," Budiawan said.
He said the fact that other toxic chemicals such as arsenic were found in the residents' blood must prompt the authorities to take action.
"The combination of two or more dangerous chemicals can be deadly. It is now useless and a waste of our time to argue whether a standard exists. The fact that their bodies contain significant amounts of dangerous chemicals should prompt us to look for the source," Budiawan said.