Study of Mercury Pollution at Bantarpanjang Area (Citarum River) Using Biomarker

Abstract

Water pollution in Citarum River located in West Java, Indonesia has worsened during the last decade due to the increase in population, agriculture and industrial development to fulfill human needs. Various monitoring methods are used to investigate surface water quality in the Citarum River. By using Liposarcus pardalis fish as a biomarker to monitor heavy metal water pollution in the Citarum River, Hadisantosa (2006) showed that copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) concentrations in fish were increasing along the Citarum River from upstream to downstream but a significant increase of mercury (Hg) concentration was only detected in the Bantar Panjang area. Therefore, the present study was intended to identify the source of mercury pollution in the Bantar Panjang area. In this study, nine sampling points were selected along the Citarum River in Bantar Panjang area, by considering the tributaries of the river. At each sampling point, three fish samples were taken and analyzed for Hg concentration based on Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 01-2364-1991. Land use data surrounding the sampling points was examined to identify the Hg pollution source. In this research, the land use data was obtained from EPA-West Java Province. A significant increase of Hg concentration in fish samples was identified after the inlet of Citarik and Cipamokolan Tributaries, which coincides with the Hg concentration pattern in river water based on water quality monitoring data from EPA-West Java for the period 2001 – 2005. Utilizing land use data, Hg pollution in the river is related to the type of industries and number of industrial plants, raw materials and processes in industries, waste water flow, and the treatment of waste water.