Southern Leyte State University Researcher Sheds Light on Mercury Pollution Impacting Philippine Coastal Ecosystems
A multi-awarded international soil and environmental scientist, Dr. Ian A. Navarrete of SLSU Hinunangan, is recognized for his significant contributions, with his research recently published in a Scopus-indexed journal. His collaborative study, titled "Mercury Distribution and Environmental Impact in Coastal Ecosystems near Artisanal Gold Mining in Mambulao Bay, Philippines," offers a comprehensive analysis of mercury contamination in the region and its ecological consequences.
The research focuses on understanding how mercury, released from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operations on the eastern shore of Mambulao Bay, accumulates in the local environment. Samples were collected in 2017 and 2018 to measure mercury levels in the air, soil, water, and sediment. The results show that mercury levels are much higher on the eastern side of the bay, near the mining sites. This is especially true in the air, soil, and sediment near the estuary. The researchers believe that rivers are the main way mercury is transported around the area.
This article, discussing the role of methylmercury-an even more toxic form of organic mercury-finds that mercury associated with mining operations is transmuting in the environment, thus affecting aquatic life and presenting possible dangers for communities that dwell close to the water bodies involved. It meets the criteria of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) as it points out the requirement for environmental protection over the affected aquatic ecosystems linked to industrial pollutants.
Paying tribute to Mr. Navarrete for his intent on further advancing environmental science and promotion of sustainable mining practices, this is the area wherein SLSU continues its pursuit of high-impact research that deals with the proper ecological concerns of global environmental sustainability.
How to cite: Tomiyasu, T., Yasumatsu, S., Kodamatani, H., Kanzaki, R., Takenaka, C., Murao, S., Miyagawa, S., Nonaka, K., Ikeguchi, A., & Navarrete, I. A. (2022). The dynamics of mercury around an artisanal and small-scale gold mining area, Camarines Norte, Philippines. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(8), 20052–20064.
To read full content: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-23497-5