Abstract
Since 2011, a considerable gold deposit was found at several locations on Buru islands, such as Botak Mountain, Gogorea, and Nona Mountain. These attracted thousands of illegal miners who used amalgamation techniques in traditional gold processing. In practicing, the mercury-containing tailings were then stored in a container or directly discharged into the river, potentially polluting the waters of Kayeli Bay as well as all fishery resources in it. This was of course worrisome because mercury (Hg) was a very toxic heavy metal and could poison humans through the food chain. This study was conducted to analyze mercury levels in sediments some river estuaries in the bay Kayeli. The mercury contented the sample was performed using a mercury analyzer. The results showed that mercury in Suket river was 1.62 mg/kg, Wailata river was 8.27 mg/kg, Anahoni river 4.99 mg/kg while Waiapu river was 0.53 mg/kg. These results indicated that sediment at the mouth of several rivers in the Kayeli Bay has been contaminated with mercury, even far beyond the standard set by the US EPA of 0.2 mg/kg.
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