Preliminary Study of Atmospheric Mercury Contamination Assessment Using Tree Bark in an ASGM Area in North Gorontalo Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) atmospheric contamination have been analysed using several indicators. In this study, the tree bark was used to indicate Hg contamination of the atmosphere in ASGM area. This study aimed to determine the potential species to assess Hg atmospheric contamination by using tree bark. The Hg concentration was determined in the tree bark from various tree species. The tree bark was collected at Diameter Breast Height (DBH) which is about 130 cm. The fine powder of tree bark was analysed by PIXE to detect Hg concentration. The results show that Mangifera indica, Lansiumdomesticum, Syzygium aromaticum and Artocarpus heterophyllus species accumulate Hg concentration about 4.90 to 10.3, ND to 1.10, ND to 4.42 and 2.43 mg/kg-DW, respectively. This suggests that M. indica, L. domesticum, S. aromaticum, and A. heterophyllus show high toxic of Hg contamination in the tree bark compared to tolerable toxic level in the plant.This study indicates that the surface condition of tree bark probably effects on the detection of Hg contamination in each tree species. The tree plant, especially tree bark, is a good candidate to assess Hg atmospheric contamination.