Effects of environmental regulations on heavy metal pollution decline in core sediments from Manila Bay.
We investigated the high-resolution heavy metal pollution history of Manila Bay using heavy metal concentrations and Pb isotope ratios together with (210)Pb dating to find out the effects of environmental regulations after the 1990 s. Our results suggested that the rate of decline in heavy metal pollution increased dramatically from the end of the 1990 s due to stricter environmental regulations, Administrative Order No. 42, being enforced by the Philippines government. The presented data and methodology should form the basis for future monitoring, leading to pollution control, and to the generation of preventive measures at the pollution source for the maintenance of environmental quality in the coastal metropolitan city of Manila. Although this is the first report of a reduction in pollution in Asian developing country, our results suggest that we can expect to find similar signs of pollution decline in other parts of the world as well.
Hosono
Takahiro
T
Priority Organization for Innovation and Excellence, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan. hosono@kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Su
Chih-Chieh
CC
Siringan
Fernando
F
Amano
Atsuko
A
Onodera
Shin-ichi
S
D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005843:Geography; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D033161:Government Regulation; D007856:Lead Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010679:Philippines; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D007856:Lead Radioisotopes; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical