Monitoring of toxic substances in the Hong Kong marine environment.
A long-term programme for monitoring toxic substances in the marine environment was established in Hong Kong in 2004, focusing on chemicals of potential ecological and health concern. The programme ran on 3-year cycles, with the first two years monitoring marine water, sediment, biota, and the third year monitoring pollution sources. Twenty-four priority chemicals were measured, including dioxins/furans, dioxin-like PCBs, total PCBs, PAHs, DDTs, HCHs, TBTs, phenol, nonylphenol (NP), NP ethoxylates, PBDEs and metals. Results from the first three years of monitoring indicate that toxic substances in the Hong Kong marine environment were within the range reported for the coastal waters in China and other regions, but generally lower than in the Pearl River Estuary. The levels met the standards for protecting aquatic life and human consumption. Sewage effluent, stormwater and river water were possible sources of phenolic compounds; whereas air deposition or regional pollution, rather than local discharges, may contribute to the dioxins/furans, PAHs and PCBs found in the marine environment.
Kueh
C S W
CS
Waste and Water Science Group, Environmental Protection Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. kueh@epd.gov.hk
Lam
J Y C
JY
D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006723:Hong Kong; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000737:chemistry; D008386:Marine Biology; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D015386:Hazardous Substances; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical