In addition to damaging the environment around the mine site, gold mining activities in Poboya also threaten the life of the entire community in Palu City.
The danger is caused by the use of harmful substances of mercury. Even the use of Mercury at Poboya exceeds the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This concerns, making scientists from Japan with academic University of Tadulako (Untad) several times to conduct research related to the spread of Mercury in the city of Palu due to gold mining activities in Poboya. The research has even been published in international journals.
In research conducted from 2010 to 2012 between Untad scholars conducted by Untad Rector, Prof Dr Ir Muhammad Basir Cyio SE MS and Dr. Isrun SP MP, and 3 Professors from Japan Professor Tomonori Kawakami from Toyama Prefectural University and Professor Takanobu Inoue from Toyohashi University of Technology and Professor Nagafuchi Osamu from the Graduate School of Enviromental Science Department of Ecosystem Studies of the University of Shiga Prefecture revealed that the level of harmful substances of mercury in the air of Palu has exceeded the standard
The WHO standard, only 1000 nano gram / m3 (ng / m3). While in Palu, some places have exceeded that number. That year of 2012, what about now!
Seeing the phenomenon in the same case in Minamata Japan, within 15 years, just seen the influence of mercury pollution on human health.
The impact will be seen on the fetus who is disabled at birth so Poboya has entered the category of crimes against humanity.
The phrase 'Crime of Humanity' of a professor is a reference for law enforcement to be more assertive and act
Almost in all parts of Palu, the air contains mercury. For the new Mapolda area, in 2012, the mercury is 1,378 ng / m3. This is very dangerous, "he said.
Overall, Isrun revealed the results of his research with Rector Untad and 3 Professors from Japan, that the air in the city of Palu has been besieged mercury-type substances.
At the site of mining activity, the mercury content in the air is 47 times larger than the WHO standard. For air areas in the Poboya mining area, it reached 47,237 ng / m3. While residents in Poboya mercury levels in the air reached 1.488 ng / m3.