Pollution survey in water, sediment and biota of Ha Long coastal marine area with focus on mercury | |
| Author | Nguyen Xuan Tuyen |
| Call Number | AIT RSPR no.EV-05-2 |
| Subject(s) | Mercury--Vietnam--Ha Long Bay Water--Pollation--Vietnam--Ha Long Bay |
| Note | A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Ha Long City is located in Quang Ninh province, in North Vietnam. It is a very beautiful coastal area with over 3 thousands limestone islands in Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay is associated with Cat Ba Island in the South and Bai Tu Long Bay in the North, to form a natural system rich in ecotourism potential. Therefore, the bay has become a famous for not only Vietnam, but also the world. At UNESCO 18th meeting, Ha Long Bay is recognized as a World Natural Heritage. In the context of market-oriented economy reform, increasing coastal population and development, as well as watershed are pressuring on coastal environment and affect on sustainable development in this area. Ha Long coastal area is undergoing great environment modification and deterioration. Mercury is recognized as one of the most toxic pollutants in the coastal environment of Ha Long Bay. Mercury and its compounds are widely used in a variety of industrial and agricultural applications. These activities will increase the degree of mercury pollution, which will subsequently have a direct impact on the quality of life of the people. Mercury incorporated into the food chain can adversely affect human health through seafood consumption i.e. fish and shellfish. This study focuses on pollution problem by mercury in Ha Long Bay. The study mainly uses primary data from the survey in July, 2005 such as field measurement, sampling in seawater, sediment and biota (fish, shellfish). These samples are analysis mercury by Cold vapor atomic absorption technique. The results from survey in Ha Long Bay in July 2005 shows that mercury concentration in seawater (0.24 μg/L) was exceeding some standards/guidelines of US EPA (0.14 μg/L) for Mariculture, Canada (0.10. μg/L) for Protection of Aquatic Life and Thailand (0.10 μg/L) for Coastal Water Quality Standard. The mercury concentration in seawater of South-East Cat Ba station (outside Ha Long Bay) is 0.10 μg/L, this concentration is still within the standard. Average value of mercury concentration in sediment is 0.28 μg/g dry. These concentrations were lower than Sediment Quality Standard for the State of Washington (0.41 μg/g dry). But compared to Draft Interim Canadian Marine Sediment Quality Guideline (0.13 μg/g dry), sediment in Ha Long Bay was slight pollution by mercury. Mercury concentrations in tissue of fish (0.150 μg/g dry) and shellfish (0.198 μg/g dry) are still within Japan Standard (0.4μg/g dry wt.) and Canada Standard (0.5 μg/g dry) for Fish Production. The mercury concentrations in water and sediment of Ha Long coastal area are found to be increasing caused by huge mercury pollution sources from coal mining, industry activities and domestic wastewater. |
| Year | 2005 |
| Type | Research Study Project Report (RSPR) |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Aramaki, Toshiya; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh;Preeda Parkpian; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Japan; |
| Degree | Research Studies Project Report (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005 |