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Substances found in watersheds and sediments in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas contaminated by heavy metals are becoming tremendously critical issues in Asia. This study aimed at clarifying the pollution caused by heavy metals in sediments in river basins near ASGM sites in Gorontalo Province, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Sediment samples collected from experimental areas were classified into nine clay samples and twenty-seven sand samples, whereas three other samples were collected from the control area. Particle-induced X-ray emission was used to analyze these samples. The Statistical Package for the Social Science and the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) were also used for analysis. Based on the results, Hg, Pb, As, and Zn had a concentration of 0−334 µg/g, 5.5−1930 µg/g, 0−18,900 µg/g, and 0−4923.2 µg/g, respectively, which exceeded limits recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency consensus (1991) and the Indonesian Government Regulation Number 38, 2011. Furthermore, Igeo showed the order of the pollution degree Hg < Zn < Pb < As and reflected an environment contaminated by heavy metals, ranging from unpolluted to extremely polluted areas. Therefore, sediments contaminated by Hg, Pb, As, and Zn could be found along the river basin of mining areas.

In this paper, we report ecological and environmental investigations on Pteris vittata in the As-Pb-Hg-polluted Bone River area, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia. The density distribution of P. vittata decreases from around the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) site to the lower reaches of the Bone River, and it is rarely found near Gorontalo City. The maximum concentrations of As, Hg, and Pb recorded in the soil samples were 401, 36, and 159 mg kg -1 , respectively, with their maximum concentrations in P. vittata recorded as 17,700, 5.2, and 39 mg kg -1 , respectively. Around the ASGM sites, the concentrations of As, Pb, and Hg in P. vittata were highest in the study area. These data suggest that P. vittata , a hyperaccumulator of As, may be useful as a bioindicator for assessing environmental pollution by Pb and Hg.

It is well known that atmospheric mercury (Hg) contaminates air, water, soil, and living organisms, including trees. Therefore, tree bark can be used for the environmental assessment of atmospheric contamination because it absorbs heavy metals. This study aimed to establish a new biomonitoring for the assessment of atmospheric Hg pollution. Reporting on atmospheric Hg contamination in an artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) area in North Gorontalo, Indonesia, we calculated the total weight of Hg (THg) and quantitatively measured the concentrations of Hg in the tree bark of Mangifera indica , Syzygium aromaticum, Terminalia catappa, and Lansium domesticum . The THg of Hg in the M. indica tree bark samples ranged from not detected (ND) to 74.6 μg dry weight (DW) per sample. The total Hg in the tree bark of S. aromaticum, T. catappa, and L. domesticum ranged from ND to 156.8, ND to 180, and ND to 63.4 μg DW, respectively. We concluded that topography significantly influences the accumulation of Hg together with local weather conditions. A mapped distribution of the THg suggested that the distribution of THg in the tree bark was not affected by the distance to the amalgamation site. Therefore, tree bark can be used as biomonitoring of atmospheric Hg contamination for the assessment of ASGM areas.

(1) Background: Geomedical science focuses on the relationship between environmental impact and human health. The abundance of elements in a geographic area is reflected accumulation of these elements in humans. This study aims to describe the relationship between concentrations of geologic elements and accumulations in the human body as well as element-related symptoms. (2) Methods: Geogenic sampling was conducted in an Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) area and around residential areas in Indonesia, and samples were analyzed using particle-induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). Head hair was sampled, and health assessments were performed to determine heavy metal exposure, especially to copper and mercury. (3) Results: Results show that potentially toxic elements' accumulation in the human body follows the abundance of these elements in the geographic area, which then affect health and manifest with specific signs and symptoms. East Tulabolo is an area rich in copper (hazard quotient (HQ) in dust = 152.8), and most of the population shows the sign of Kayser-Fleischer rings. Likewise, the Dunggilata area has the highest concentration of mercury, especially in the dust (HQ = 11.1), related to ASGM activity in residential areas. (4) Conclusions: This study concludes that the geogenic concentration of elements parallels the accumulation of human tissue and manifests with element-related signs and symptoms.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to observe the relationship between trace element concentrations in lung tissue from lung non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients and prognosis. Materials and Methods: The concentrations of various trace elements in the lung tissues were measured by a particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) system, and the results were analyzed for statistical significance. Eight essential trace elements, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, and Mo, were analyzed. We investigated the relationship between trace element concentrations and disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients. Results: A total of 129 NSCLC patients and 20 control patients were included in this study. As for DFS, Co was the only element that showed a significant difference, and the high Co group had better DFS (HR: 0.352, 95% CI = 0.128-0.97). No significant difference was observed for Cr, Mn, Fe, Se, or Mo, but DFS tended to be better in the high trace element group. No significant difference was observed for Cu and Zn, but DFS tended to be good in the low trace element group. As for OS, Cr was the only element that showed a significant difference, and the high Cr element group had better OS (HR: 0.477, 95% CI = 0.128-0.97). Conclusions: This study suggests that the prognosis is good in lung cancer cases with high intratumoral concentrations of Co and Cr. The dynamics of trace elements in body and in tumor tissue have not been well established, and we consider that more research is necessary in the future.

The evaluation of mercury impact on humans is currently nonspecific because the body characteristics (homeostasis) of each human being varies. Therefore, in the early diagnosis of mercury toxicity, one of the most important monitoring parameters is the respiratory function examination. In this study, respiratory function was examined with a portable spirometer and correlated with the mercury levels in hair from the noses and heads of subjects. Samples were taken from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas (villages of East Tulabolo and Dunggilata) and control areas (villages of Bongo and Longalo) in Gorontalo Province, Indonesia. A statistical analysis with the Mann⁻Whitney test (alternative) showed significant differences in lung function between the polluted and control areas ( α = 0.03). The analysis of nasal and head hair samples with particle-induced X -ray emissions (PIXE) showed that the mercury levels in the ASGM area were considerably higher than in the more homogeneous control areas. This study confirms that a pulmonary function test is a quick and precise alternative way to monitor the impact of mercury on humans, especially atmospheric mercury, because we detected a negative correlation between pulmonary function and the level of mercury in hair.