Assessment of low-cost mercury absorbent to minimize the mercury environmental and health effects in Makassar coastal areas

Mercury contained in waste in public waters is converted by activity of microorganisms into methyl-mercury (Me-Hg) components which have toxic properties and strong binding capacity in addition to their high solubility, especially in the bodies of aquatic animals. This study aims to assess the effectivity Hg absorbent made from sulfur and unsaturated pure cooking in minimizing potential effect of community health and the ecology effect in Makassar coastal areas, Indonesia. This research applied the pre and post-test experimental methods. Results of laboratory tests indicated that two high values of the magnitude of THg before the installment of mercury absorbent on the site study each point was at station 14 and station 15, it is on Paotere Port and SD Negeri Cambayya with values of 1.0019 and 1.3270 mg/l, respectively. Further, the high reduction after the polymer sulfur installment was at the same stations with a magnitude of values 0.9026 and 1.2783, respectively. Furthermore, assessment of ecological risks shows stations with high risks were at SD Negeri Cambayya (13.27), Paotere Port (10.02, and Makassar container terminal with ecological risk of (10.01) unit less, respectively. In addition, the high Hazard Quotient, values were 7.12, 6.48, and 6.23 at the same stations, respectively. There were significant differences in total mercury magnitude between different stations for surface water. The magnitude of total mercury was higher before mercury absorbent application than those and after the application of sulfur polymer. The magnitude concentration of THg reduction reaches up to 100% and some are higher than expected.