VALUASI EKONOMI DAMPAK PENCEMARAN MERKURI PASCATAMBANG EMAS TERHADAP KESEHATAN, EKOSISTEM DAN KELAYAKAN EKONOMI

Abstract

Abstrak: Pencemaran merkuri di wilayah pascatambang emas menimbulkan dampak jangka panjang terhadap kesehatan, ekosistem, dan ekonomi masyarakat. Penelitian ini menganalisis eksternalitas negatif pencemaran merkuri menggunakan pendekatan valuasi ekonomi lingkungan dengan metode Cost of Illness (COI), Replacement Cost, dan Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR). Hasil menunjukkan bahwa merkuri menyebabkan gangguan kesehatan seperti kerusakan saraf dan organ, dengan estimasi COI sekitar Rp 1.820.000 per orang per tahun. Biaya pengganti untuk kebutuhan air bersih mencapai Rp 3.352.104 per bulan per rumah tangga, dan potensi kerugian total di tingkat kecamatan melebihi Rp 1 miliar per tahun. Nilai BCR < 1 menunjukkan bahwa kerugian sosial akibat pencemaran lebih besar dibanding manfaat ekonomi dari tambang emas, sehingga aktivitas tersebut tidak layak secara ekonomi maupun lingkungan. Penelitian ini menegaskan pentingnya penerapan kebijakan berbasis valuasi ekonomi dan pengendalian merkuri sesuai Konvensi Minamata. Abstract: Mercury pollution in post-gold mining areas poses long-term impacts on public health, ecosystems, and local economies. This study analyzes the negative externalities of mercury contamination using an environmental economic valuation approach through the Cost of Illness (COI), Replacement Cost, and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) methods. The results show that mercury exposure leads to health issues such as neurological and organ damage, with an estimated COI of approximately IDR 1,820,000 per person per year. The replacement cost for clean water needs reaches IDR 3,352,104 per household per month, while total potential losses at the sub-district level exceed IDR 1 billion per year. The BCR value < 1 indicates that the social and environmental costs of mercury pollution outweigh the economic benefits of gold mining, rendering such activities economically and ecologically unfeasible. This study highlights the importance of implementing economic valuation-based policies and mercury control measures in line with the Minamata Convention.