Heavy Metal-Tolerant Bacteria Found in Former Nickel Mine Pools in East Halmahera

Image: article cover, from Margaretta et al. (2018), Jurnal Wasian, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

A research team from the Manado Forestry and Environment Research and Development Centre has identified bacteria living in the former nickel mine pools of PT Antam in East Halmahera, North Maluku. The study, published in the Journal Wasian in 2018, found six bacterial genera—Bacillus, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Klebsiella—comprising a total of 18 species. The research is significant because nickel mining leaves heavy metal contamination in soil and water, and the bacteria identified could serve as a starting point for cleaning up that contamination through bioremediation.

Of the six genera, Bacillus dominated, accounting for up to 50 per cent of the species found. According to the study, the presence of these bacteria indicates that native, locally occurring bacteria are able to withstand heavy metal stress. This tolerance provides an initial basis for selecting the bacteria with the greatest potential to reduce heavy metal contamination in former mining environments.

For communities living near forests and mines in East Halmahera, this finding opens the way for environmental restoration efforts that are cheaper and more environmentally friendly than chemical methods. However, the study is only at the identification stage and has not yet tested the bacteria's capacity to absorb heavy metals. Further research is therefore needed to determine which bacteria would be most effective for use in the field.

Source and how to cite

This story is based on the research article Identification of Water Bacteria from Nickel Post Mining in East Halmahera by Margaretta Christita Margaretta, Iwanuddin Iwanuddin Iwanuddin, Yermias Kafiar Yermias and Supratman Tabba Supratman, published in Jurnal Wasian Vol. 5 No. 1 (2018). The full article is free to read on the Jurnal Wasian website.

Cite the original article (APA 7):

Margaretta, M. C., Iwanuddin, I. I., Yermias, Y. K., & Supratman, S. T. (2018). Identification of Water Bacteria from Nickel Post Mining in East Halmahera. Jurnal Wasian, 5(1), 35–42. https://doi.org/10.62142/x32gnn20

If you use these findings in coursework, a thesis or other writing, cite the original article above, not this news story. The original article is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.