Tests find arsenic in residents' blood

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.