Bioaccumulation of Mercury and Other Trace Elements in the Edible Holothurian Holothuria (Halodeima) atra in Relation to Gold Mining Activities in North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Artisanal and small-scale gold mines (ASGMs) have been accompanied by widespread usage of mercury amalgamation to extract from ores, putting Indonesia among the top three global emitters this pollutant posing potential risks marine ecosystem human health. Although use has largely eliminated following signature Minamata Convention on Mercury, practice in ASGM persisted several regions, including North Sulawesi. This study assesses how contamination other trace elements coming both industrial ASGMs affects sediments their bioaccumulation two tissues (body wall guts) edible holothurian Holothuria ( Halodeima ) atra , comparing samples collected downstream four mining areas control sites Sulawesi province, Indonesia. In sediments, mean concentrations arsenic, gold, cobalt, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, zinc were significantly higher at receiving mine discharges than sites. Downstream mines, compared sites, significant As, Au, Cr, Hg, Ni holothurians body walls Co, Cu, Pb, Sb, Sn, Zn guts found. general, contaminations found site near oldest artisanal mine. Trace element levels H. specimens generally those reported regions. area, these bioaccumulate Zn, Cd, biota-sediment accumulation factors walls. From an environmental health perspective, Hg is resulted most concerning surface sediment specimens. Based evidence, further studies are urgently needed understand better effect potentially toxic ecosystems food webs many still poorly investigated southeast Pacific areas.