Potentially Toxic Elements Concentration in Human Hair Collected from Inhabitants Surrounding Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mine (ASGM) Areas in Gorontalo Province, Indonesia

Sri Manovita Pateda (Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo, Gorontalo 96100, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia)
Masayuki Sakakibara (Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 457-4 Motoyama, Kamigamo, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture 790-8577, Japan)
Nurfitri Abdul Gafur (Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, Research Organization for Life Sciences and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency, Building 720 KST B.J. Habibie, Serpong, South Tangerang 15341, Banten, Indonesia)

JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN (Journal of Environmental Health)
Vol. 18 No. 3 (2026): JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN

Introduction: The potential for accumulation of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) within the human body is a multifaceted phenomenon that can occur through various routes, including ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) worker can result in exposure to toxic elements and lead to their accumulation in the human body. Methods: This study took place in 5 mining and 2 control areas in Gorontalo Province, Indonesia. The hair samples were taken from 93 respondents. The hair samples were analyzed using a mercury analyzer to detect total mercury, along with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP- MS) to determine the levels of other elements. We also calculate the results used Hazard Quotient to screen potential hazardous elements. Results and Discussion: Concentrations of PTEs in hair varied widely, especially for THg, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Mn. HQ calculations comparing mean concentrations with reference values showed that arsenic had the highest HQ (24.2), corresponding to a high potential health risk. Arsenic indicated by the highest HQ value; arsenic was identified as the most significant element. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that miners exhibited the most variability. Conclusion: These findings highlight the usefulness of hair analysis as a biomonitoring tool for evaluating long-term exposure to PTEs in ASGM-affected communities.