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[00:00.67] People living in the area have reported health problems.

[00:06.25] Some told the Associated Press (AP) that they suffered from itchy skin, sore throat and other difficulties.

[00:19.26] The Indonesia-based nonprofit group Satya Bumi sent water, dust and shellfish from the area to a laboratory this year.

[00:33.61] The group said the results showed dangerous levels of nickel, lead and cadmium. These substances are linked to mining.

[00:47.95] Kathrin Shilling is an assistant professor and biology researcher at Columbia University in New York City.

[00:59.90] She studied the lab results.

[01:03.09] Shilling told the AP, “If people on this island are using the river water as drinking water…you cannot escape basically any of the exposure to those toxic metals.”

[01:19.30] Kabaena is not the only place affected.

[01:24.08] To the north, on a larger island, Torobulu is another place where mining damage can be seen.

[01:34.70] The mining problems continue although Indonesia’s constitutional court ruled in March of this year that small islands such as Kabaena should have special protection.

[01:50.90] However, a researcher from Satya Bumi said the government is still approving mining permits.

[02:01.00] The group Mighty Earth said 150 hectares of forest have been cleared on Kabaena since April 1.

[02:13.75] And it said over half of that was on land controlled by the mining company Tonia Mitra Sejahtera.

[02:25.17] The company and Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources did not answer requests for comment from the AP.

[02:37.38] Amiruddin is a 53-year-old fisherman on Kabaena Island.

[02:46.15] He said the results of the government permits for mining have affected many people.

[02:54.65] “All residents here have felt the impact,” he said.