Mercury exposure from small scale gold mining activities and neurological symptoms on inhabitants and miners: a case study in Bolaang Mongondow, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

Abstract Mercury level in scalp hair of inhabitants and gold miners’ livings at two artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sites in Bolaang Mongondow regency of North Sulawesi Province was studied. Totally 50 scalp hairs were collected from Tanoyan, Tobongon and Kotamobagu city, and kept for further analysis. The mercury hair contents were determined using Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) at Nishina memorial research facility of Iwate Medical University of Japan. Mean levels of mercury in scalp hairs of inhabitants and ASGM workers were around 5 ppm. The highest mercury levels were found at females’ miners in Tobongon and female teenagers in Tanoyan. Neurological assessment was conducted on several inhabitants and gold miners. 12 symptoms ((1) Signs of bluish discoloration of gums; (2) Rigidity and ataxia (walking or standing), (3) Alternating movements or dysdiadochokinesia, (4) Irregular eye movements or nystagmnus, (5) Field of vision, (6) Knee jerk reflex, (7) Biceps reflex, (8) Babinski reflex, (9) Labial reflex, (10) Salivation and dysarthia, (11) Sensory examination and (12) Tremor.) were used to describe the neurological disorder which may related to mercury expousure. It was found that nine neurological symptoms were dominantly observed among miners than inhabitants and three sypmtoms (8, 9 and 10) were less frequently observed.