EFFECTS OF MERCURY EXPOSURE ON CHILDREN’S COGNITIVE, MEMORY, HEARING, AND MOTOR FUNCTIONS AROUND THE ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE GOLD MINING (ASGM) ACTIVITIES (CASE STUDY: JD VILLAGE, SL DISTRICT, WG REGENCY, CENTRAL JAVA)

• Main Author: KOMALASARI, SEPTIASIH
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik saniter dan perkotaan; teknik perlindungan lingkungan
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/59558
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

In the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) activities, mercury is used to extract gold from ore through the formation of amalgam to be heated, leaving a gold content. The release of mercury in the environment can cause the environmental pollution. Exposure to mercury used in the ASGM process not only impacts the miners but also the surrounding community including children. Exposure to mercury in children can have an impact on the developing nervous system. This study was conducted to analyze the effects of mercury exposure on children’s cognitive, memory, hearing, and motor functions around ASGM activities. Mercury exposure is obtained from an inventory of data from preliminary studies. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), memory function was performed using the Backward Digit Span method either manually or computerized, hearing using the tuning fork test, as for motor tests performed using tremor and tandem gait method. The study was conducted in JD Village, SL District, WG Regency, Central Java. Respondents who participated in this study amounted to 34. Based on the health examination results, 4 respondents (11.76%) suspected cognitive impairment, 3 respondents (8.82%) suspected memory impairment, and 16 respondents (47%) suspected hearing loss. There were no respondents with suspected motor problems. The results showed that oral Hg intake significantly affected the occurrence probability of cognitive and memory impairment (p<0.1). The distance less than 1 km of the amalgam burning location, Inhaled Hg intake, the Hg concentrations in blood and urine are significantly affected the occurrence probability of hearing loss (p<0.1)