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Mercury from illegal gold mines to blame for fatal birth defects in Mandailing Natal, regent says
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The use of mercury in illegal gold mining activities in Mandailing Natal regency, North Sumatra, has reportedly affected the physical well-being of newborns in the region, resulting in five deaths and numerous birth defects over the past couple of years. (Shutterstock/-)
T
he use of mercury in illegal gold mining activities in Mandailing Natal regency, North Sumatra, has reportedly affected the physical well-being of newborns in the region, resulting in five deaths and numerous birth defects over the past couple of years.
Mandailing Natal regent Dahlan Nasution alleged that local gold miners had been processing gold ores using galundung, a machine operated with the use of certain chemicals such as mercury. According to the local administration’s records, 700 to 1,000 galundung are operated in the regency, he said.
“In the past two years, five newborns have had fatal birth defects. The number of infants born with deformities must be connected to the illegal gold mining activities across Mandailing Natal,” Dahlan wrote to North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi on Wednesday in an official letter, a copy of which was received by The Jakarta Post.
Among the newborns to succumb to fatal birth defects was Fatimah, born on Nov. 21, 2013, with exposed intestines. Fatimah passed away one week later following medical treatment in Medan. There was also Siti Aisah, born on Sept. 13, 2018, with congenital defects in her eyes. Siti died seven hours after birth. On Mar. 10 this year, Siti Fatimah was born with an incomplete brain and larynx and passed away four hours later.
Dahlan said the mothers of the infants had worked processing gold ores using galundung at several illegal mining sites during their pregnancies. None were equipped with proper safety gear such as gloves, he said.
“These mothers worked with galundung while they were pregnant. They were tasked with extracting gold using a mixture of chemicals,” he said.
The government has struggled to curb the effects of mercury – a chemical that attacks the brain, bowels, kidneys and other organs – with its presence in Indonesia’s air, land and waters rising to dangerous levels.
