Evaluation of heavy metal (Cu, Pb, Zn) distribution in base metal mining area at Sangkaropi: Implication for land use planning

Abstract

Settling-pond treatment systems have been applied in the base-metal mining area at Sangkaropi, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, before being discharged into the Koyan River through the agriculture area. This study aims to conduct a valuation of pollutant Pb, Cu and Zn in areas impacted by base-metal mining in sediment materials as a sensitive indicator for monitoring contaminants in the aquatic environment. Sediment sampling location, the first is in the upstream before the mining location, the second is located in the mining area to settling pond, and the third is in the area after settling-pond to the agriculture area. The concentrations of heavy metal were analyzed using uses AAS method. The assessment is performed based on the value of contamination degree, enrichment of heavy metal pollutant and ecological risk. The arrangement of the average frequency of heavy metal concentrations is Pb>Cu>Zn, which Cf and I-geo values have the almost same behavior. All metal in the upstream and agriculture site is classified as a low category, the Cu on the second and third sites is moderate. The assessment results from this study represent that Pb has a considerable ecological risk category value. However, polluted-Cu are categorized moderately need to be cautious, because metal enrichment comes from mineralization bedrock in the river. Therefore, the result of this study shows that geologic data, especially mineralized bedrocks associated the heavy metal concentration, should be taken into consideration in land-use planning policy in areas that have been impacted by mining and in the assessment of environmental health impacts.