Change in Values of Illegal Miners and Inhabitants and Reduction in Environmental Pollution after the Cessation of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining: A Case of Bunikasih, Indonesia

Idham Andri Kurniawan (), Win Thiri Kyaw, Mirzam Abdurrachman, Xiaoxu Kuang and Masayuki Sakakibara
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Idham Andri Kurniawan: Geological Engineering Department, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Win Thiri Kyaw: Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan
Mirzam Abdurrachman: Geological Engineering Department, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Xiaoxu Kuang: Chaozhou Branch of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Chaozhou 521000, China
Masayuki Sakakibara: Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 17, 1-16

Abstract: Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) harms the environment and human health, because it requires mercury (Hg). Therefore, this study uses a questionnaire survey to identify the effects of the medical checkup findings, group discussion, and educational seminar on the values of illegal miners and residents in Bunikasih, Indonesia, regarding the environmental and health effects of Hg. Transdisciplinary communities of practice (TDCoP) were formed to pursue alternative livelihoods than illegal ASGM. Environmental pollution after ASGM closure was assessed. The questionnaire showed that respondents changed their views on Hg’s effects and were willing to stop ASGM practices. In an environmental impact assessment study, tea leaf samples were obtained between the ASGM activity location and village housing in two periods during ASGM closure to identify the concentrations of Hg, lead, and arsenic. Their mean concentration values in Period 1 (2) were 0.54 ± 0.14, 0.66 ± 0.09, and 0.34 ± 0.12 mg kg ?1 (0.08 ± 0.04, 0.34 ± 0.14, and 0.07 ± 0.06 mg kg ?1 ), respectively, indicating a decrease in environmental pollution. In conclusion, the government-driven cessation of ASGM in the study area shows a reduction in environmental pollution, and the change in the perception of the participants regarding the ASGM and TDCoP approaches help to make these changes permanent.

Keywords: ASGM; transdisciplinary community of practice; tea leaves; mercury; lead; arsenic; Bunikasih; Indonesia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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