National

Buyat Bay Residents’ Blood Samples to Be Sent to WHO
Thursday, 26 August, 2004 | 00:12 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Indonesian government is to send blood samples of Buyat Bay and village residents, who have been contaminated by the pollution in the bay, to the World Health Organization (WHO).

These samples will be sent within this week or early next month.

According to Umar Fahdi Ahmadi, the Indonesian health department’s director-general of contagious disease eradication and environmental health, the blood samples had been taken by Sakaoto MD from the Minamata Institute, Japan.

So far, Ahmadi said at the legislature complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (24/08), Sakaoto was yet to find any symptoms as suffered by Minamata disease patients.

However, the disease pattern has indeed increased.

Of the 22 residents examined by Sakaoto, about 5 percent have of tumors or cysts and some also have skin disease and suffer from dizziness.

Ahmadi said he considered it necessary to establish a team to examine the health of Buyat residents, particularly as regards their eating habits, living patterns and environmental conditions.

However, the forming of this team will require time and funds.

National Police headquarters (HQ)’s chief of crime and detectives Comm. Gen Suyitno Landung said that the test made by National Police HQ forensic laboratory center has shown indications of elements of mercury and arsenic in the Buyat Bay and river.

“The content of these two metals exceeded the normal limit,” he said.

Landung added that the National Police would conduct an investigation into the matter to find out the responsible parties. (Retno S/Khairunnisa/Verrianto M-Tempo News Room)