ANALYSIS OF MERCURY (HG) CONTENT IN URINE AND ITS IMPACT ON HEALTH DISORDERS OF ILLEGAL GOLD MINING WORKERS IN MALOMBA VILLAGE, DONDO SUB-DISTRICT, TOLITOLI DISTRICT

Abstract

Mercury is a heavy metal element that very easily enters the bodies of living creatures and joins the food chain. The living creatures most likely to be directly exposed to mercury are traditional miners who use the amalgam method to extract gold ore. The danger of poisoning posed by mercury for humans can be diagnosed through analysis of mercury levels in urine. Furthermore, this research aims to determine mercury levels in the urine of gold mine workers and to obtain information regarding the mercury content in the urine and the health problems of gold mine workers. The method used in this research was the calibration curve method with Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectophotometry (CV-AAS) analysis and descriptive methods from the results of questionnaire interviews. The results show that the mercury levels in mine workers have exceeded the threshold value set by WHO of 4 ppb while the highest mercury level obtained is 44.1 ppb, the lowest mercury level is 8.38 ppb and the control sample is 6.32 ppb, and there are 2 respondents that have symptoms of mercury exposure, namely respondent OP showing symptoms of mercury exposure in the form of frequent tingling, itching, easy fatigue, headache and eye irritation, and respondent YP showing symptoms of mercury exposure in the form of tremors, frequent tingling, itching, weakness of taste buds, difficulty swallowing, diarrhea, and headache. Based on the research results, it is found that the bodies of mining workers in Malomba Village show symptoms of exposure to mercury.