Heavy Metals Contamination and its Implication in the Development of the Estuarine Zone of the Southern China

Lin, Zhiqing; Zheng, Jianlu; Chan, Kwan Ming; ,

Heavy Metals Contamination and its Implication in the Development of the Estuarine Zone of the Southern China

by Zhiqing Lin, South China Sea Inst of Oceanology, Guangzhou, China,
Jianlu Zheng, South China Sea Inst of Oceanology, Guangzhou, China,
Kwan Ming Chan, South China Sea Inst of Oceanology, Guangzhou, China,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '93

Abstract:

During the pat decade, the economic growth of the estuarine region of the Southern China has been astonishingly rapid. One of the major concerns has been the water pollution problem because of the industrial and technological advances, the increasing population migration into the above area, and urbanization of farm lands. This paper reviews the extent of the above problem, especially the heavy metals contamination in the Pearl River (Zhujiang) estuary between Canton (Guangzhou) and Hong Kong. Physical and chemical studies of the environment by several local governmental agencies were carried out over the past three years. The sources of input, and the distribution pattern of heavy metals in the soil, vegetables, crops, suspended particles and bottom sediments were analyzed and their forms and speciation were determined. The dispersion pattern of the heavy metals and their degree of pollution in the estuarine region were discussed.

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