Research Report: Risk Analysis of Environmental Health Due to Exposure of PM10, PM2.5, and SO2 in The Villages of Fatufia, Bahomakmur, and Labota

With the rapid rise of the nickel mining industry in Indonesia, grave threats to the environment and public health have risen in the wake of nickel companies that are expanding their operations in the regency of Morowali, Indonesia. As our commitment to social and environmental justice, TuK INDONESIA (Transformation for Justice Indonesia) has sets its sights on this issue as one of our most pressing concerns. Thus, after unwavering support, we have release our recent report titled “Environmental Health Risk Analysis Due to Exposure to PM10, PM2.5, and SO2 in the Communities of Fatufia, Bahomakmur, and Labota Villages”. We believe this report to be critically relevant for the current state of environmental activism, and may hold crucial value for various stakeholders, especially those involved in the mining sector and environmental protection.

Nickel mining activities have an inherent potential to damage and degrade the quality of ecosystems, one of many ways being a significant contributor in the increase of particulate matter and sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentrations in the air. Particulates (PM10, PM2.5) and SO2 are direct emissions from various nickel mining activities and have been proven to have a significant impact on the health of communities around mining operation areas. According to the research presented in this report, the average concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and SO2 in Fatufia, Bahomakmur, and Labota Villages have exceeded the quality standards set by the government, reflecting a serious health risk for local residents.

This study employs an environmental health risk analysis method (ARKL) to assess the long-term impact of exposure to PM10, PM2.5, and SO2 on public health. Based on one key finding, projected pollutant intake shows that the average respondent has exceeded the recommended RfC (Reference Concentration) values after 10 years of exposure, indicating a high potential health risk. Additionally, the maximum intakes of PM10 and SO2 have reached 0.023212 mg/kg/day and 0.061579 mg/kg/day, which significantly exceeds safety limits, underscoring the urgent need for policies regulating air pollution control in the area.

Furthermore, risk characterization analyses reveal that some respondents carry a Risk Quotient (RQ) value greater than 1, indicating a real and non-negligible health risk. The most common impacts are respiratory disorders such as acute respiratory infections (ISPA), asthma, and even the potential for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This situation is exacerbated by data that show local health facilities, such as community health centers (Puskesmas), are inadequately equipped to handle increases in such cases, highlighting a serious gap in healthcare infrastructure in the affected areas.

This report also emphasizes the importance of consistent monitoring and evaluation of pollutant emissions from mining activities. Data indicates that monitoring is often not conducted routinely, merely occasionally, which points to poor regulatory enforcement. This highlights the need for reforms in environmental oversight, particularly in air quality monitoring and the enforcement of sanctions for violations.