ID :
23587
Fri, 10/10/2008 - 09:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23587
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EAST INDONESIAN COASTAL DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATED WITH ARSENIC
Jakarta, Oct 9 (ANTARA) -- Arsenic-contaminated drinking water along Java's east coast is currently posing a threat to some around 15 million people living in those areas, Director of Housing and Settlements of the National Planning Board Budi Hidayat said here Thursday.
The matter had been taken up in a workshop held by the AMPL (drinking water and environmental sanitation task force) here, Thursday.
Many people are still unaware of the arsenic contamination, and government interference is needed because most of the people had their drinking water from shallow wells, instead of piped water supplied by the water works.
"Most people did not care too much whether they are or are not contamined, so that the government needs to tell them that their water had been contaminated by the hazardous chemical," Inswiasri, a Ministry of Health Research and Development Agency official told the workshop participants.
She said that arsenic is normally found in industrial polluted waste material, such as from coal burning, copper smelting, electronic industry and gold mining.
The heavy metal is not always present in water, but often in the air as well, especially near mines. She also said that the government needed to conduct further research of the condition, but the obstacle is ways lack of money.
Rignaldo Djamaluddin of the Sam Ratulangi University also said that in some parts of Sumatra and Indonesian eastern coast, arsenic is found on rocks. Meanwhile the result of research indicated that Javanese rocks have very low arsenic content, and this dangerous chamical is also found in Kalimantan coal mining areas.
Under a ministerial decision, the arsenic content in drinking water is 0.01 ppb (parts per billion), and 0.05 ppb in clean water normally used for bathing and washing purposes.
Haruki Agustina, an environmental ministry official said that government research should not only cover arsenic contemination, but other dangerous chemicals as well, like mercury.
The matter had been taken up in a workshop held by the AMPL (drinking water and environmental sanitation task force) here, Thursday.
Many people are still unaware of the arsenic contamination, and government interference is needed because most of the people had their drinking water from shallow wells, instead of piped water supplied by the water works.
"Most people did not care too much whether they are or are not contamined, so that the government needs to tell them that their water had been contaminated by the hazardous chemical," Inswiasri, a Ministry of Health Research and Development Agency official told the workshop participants.
She said that arsenic is normally found in industrial polluted waste material, such as from coal burning, copper smelting, electronic industry and gold mining.
The heavy metal is not always present in water, but often in the air as well, especially near mines. She also said that the government needed to conduct further research of the condition, but the obstacle is ways lack of money.
Rignaldo Djamaluddin of the Sam Ratulangi University also said that in some parts of Sumatra and Indonesian eastern coast, arsenic is found on rocks. Meanwhile the result of research indicated that Javanese rocks have very low arsenic content, and this dangerous chamical is also found in Kalimantan coal mining areas.
Under a ministerial decision, the arsenic content in drinking water is 0.01 ppb (parts per billion), and 0.05 ppb in clean water normally used for bathing and washing purposes.
Haruki Agustina, an environmental ministry official said that government research should not only cover arsenic contemination, but other dangerous chemicals as well, like mercury.
