香港东北部托罗港湾水环境评价

Uncontrolled discharges of municipal sewage, agricultural wastes and industrial effluents in the past decades have upset the ecosystems, caused frequent occurrences of red tides, and resulted in a loss of inland and coastal amenity values of the land-locked embayment of Tolo Harbour and the related river systems. This paper provides a review of the established relevant legislations and sewage management facilities for environmental conservation, and the current status of water environment in the Tolo Harbour Water Control Zone.     

Eutrophication Dynamics of Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong

The time and spatial variation of water quality in Tolo Harbour, a eutrophic landlocked semi-enclosed bay frequented by algal blooms, is studied using a dynamic eutrophication model. Hourly changes of tide levels and currents are computed by a link-node model assuming M₂ tidal forcing. Phytoplankton growth is assumed to be limited by solar radiation, nitrogen and temperature. The model incorporates light acclimation by algae, self-shading, photosynthetic production, nutrient uptake, and a dynamic determination of the carbon to chlorophyll ratio. In particular, sediment-water-pollutant interactions are modelled via an anaerobic benthic layer segment. Using recorded pollution loads and environmental forcing as input, the model predictions of daily-averaged water quality are compared with the extensive water quality monitoring data of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). The predicted spatial distribution and trends of algal biomass, inorganic nitrogen, dissolved oxygen (DO), as well as sediment oxygen demand (SOD), are in general agreement with field observations.     

香港水环境管理重点分析

With a high population density, immense commercial and industrial activities, Hong Kong produces over two million tonnes of municipal wastewater each day. Until recently, about 50% of the municipal wastewater enters water courses, rivers, and coastal waters without treatment. Untreated organics, heavy metals and refractory synthetic materials accumulate in certain areas, and have led to breakdown of aquatic and marine ecological systems, closure of beaches, red tides and bioaccumulation in seafood. In 1974, a team of consultants was commissioned to study the water pollution problems encountered in Hong Kong. After two decades in the effort to improve the water environment, a flexible framework for environmental planning and management over the following ten years has been designed. This programme comprises (1) establishment of water control zones and pollution control legislation, (2) upgrading of services and facilities for management of municipal sewage and chemical wastes, and (3) construction of the "Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme". In line with this programme, a priority has been set on implementing a "polluter pays policy" which requires the industries to share the costs of sewage treatment and encourages them to install on-site wastewater pretreatment facilities to reduce wastewater generation and to ensure sustainable development.     

Organochlorines in Hong Kong Fish

Muscle samples from 15 species of fish (n=1) purchased from markets in Hong Kong and 10 liver samples of tilapia (Tilapia mossambica) collected from the Shing Mun River were analysed for organochlorines (polychlorinated biphenyls, ΣDDTs, hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorocyclohexanes, chlordanes, mirex and dieldrin). Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were detected in 15 market fish samples but the levels were very low (around 1 ng g⁻¹). PCB levels in tilapia livers collected from Tai Wai (29.3–65.1 ng g⁻¹) were higher than those from Fo Tan (3.5–23.2 ng g⁻¹) suggesting that there may be some local point soucres. ΣDDTs were detected in all samples, ranging from 3.3 to 75.6 ng g⁻¹ in the market fish and from 7.1 to 88.8 ng g⁻¹ in tilapia. The DDE/DDT ratios in the market fish (0.12–0.75) showed higher variability than those of tilapia (0.30–0.46), suggesting that some of the market fish may have been collected from areas where DDT was recently used. Results of this preliminary study show that organochlorine levels in Hong Kong market fish are low and do not cause any concern for human consumption. An on-going monitoring program, however, is recommended.     

福建省富营养化水库沉积物磷形态及对水体的贡献

采用 SMT 法结合 X 射线荧光和 X 射线衍射分析了福建省发生富营养化的山仔深水库表层沉积物的磷赋存形态 及对水体的贡献．分析结果表明，山仔水库表层沉积物总磷含量在400-750 mg/kg 之间，铁/铝结合态磷和有机磷是沉积 物磷的主要赋存形态，分别占总磷含量的47%和37%左右．沉积物水-土界面存在明显的活性磷梯度，在一定条件下活 性磷可以从沉积物间隙水扩散到上覆水体，从而一定程度上影响山仔水库水体的营养水平．     

香港安山-英安质古火山颈群

香港中侏罗世屯门组火山岩主要由安山质熔岩、凝灰岩和凝灰角砾岩夹少量凝灰质砂岩组成。其中凝灰角砾岩初期曾误认为是沉积砾岩。1990年香港地质调查组重新研究后,确认是火山成因的凝灰角砾岩。按岩相分析,屯门组火山岩可分为火山通道相安山-英安质熔岩和爆发角砾岩,还有爆发空落相凝灰角砾岩。火山通道相又可分为火山颈相和岩墙相,分布在屯门组东西两侧。在青山东麓,出露一列NNW向呈断续、线状分布的火山颈群。近年来新出版的《香港地质考察指引》和《香港工程地质实践》等地质著作仍将该区爆发角砾岩误认为是沉积成因的砾岩,在地质勘探和工程设计上造成混乱,导致不应有的经济和时间上的损失。本文综合最新研究成果并与世界各地同类火山岩的特征进行对比,确证火山通道相爆发角砾岩的存在,并发现呈线状分布的古火山颈群。     

Temporal and spatial variations in nutrient stoichiometry and regulation of phytoplankton biomass in Hong Kong waters: influence of the Pearl River outflow and sewage inputs

In 2001, the Hong Kong government implemented the Harbor Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) under which 70% of the sewage that had been formerly discharged into Victoria Harbor is now collected and sent to Stonecutters Island Sewage Works where it receives chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT), and is then discharged into waters west of the Harbor. The relocation of the sewage discharge will possibly change the nutrient dynamics and phytoplankton biomass in this area. Therefore, there is a need to examine the factors that regulate phytoplankton growth in Hong Kong waters in order to understand future impacts. Based on a historic nutrient data set (1986-2001), a comparison of ambient nutrient ratios with the Redfield ratio (N:P:Si=16:1:16) showed clear spatial variations in the factors that regulate phytoplankton biomass along a west (estuary) to east (coastal/oceanic) transect through Hong Kong waters. Algal biomass was constrained by a combination of low light conditions, a rapid change in salinity, and strong turbulent mixing in western waters throughout the year. Potential stoichiometric Si limitation (up to 94% of the cases in winter) occurred in Victoria Harbor due to the contribution of sewage effluent with high N and P enrichment all year, except for summer when the frequency of stoichiometric Si limitation (48%) was the same as P, owing to the influence of the high Si in the Pearl River discharge. In the eastern waters, potential N limitation and N and P co-limitation occurred in autumn and winter respectively, because of the dominance of coastal/oceanic water with low nutrients and low N:P ratios. In contrast, potential Si limitation occurred in spring and a switch to potential N, P and Si limitation occurred in eastern waters in summer. In southern waters, there was a shift from P limitation (80%) in summer due to the influence of the N-rich Pearl River discharge, to N limitation (68%) in autumn, and to N and P co-limitation in winter due to the dominance of N-poor oceanic water from the oligotrophic South China Sea. Our results show clear temporal and spatial variations in the nutrient stoichiometry which indicates potential regulation of phytoplankton biomass in HK waters due to the combination of the seasonal exchange of the Pearl River discharge and oceanic water, sewage effluent inputs, and strong hydrodynamic mixing from SW monsoon winds in summer and the NE monsoon winds in winter.     

Historical trends of organic pollutants in sediment cores from Hong Kong

Recent studies have indicated the occurrence of a wide range of trace organic contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the Hong Kong environment. These contaminants are potentially harmful to ecological systems, particularly in coastal areas. In this study, two sediment cores (4m) were collected from southern waters of Hong Kong in 2004 to study the historical trends, distribution patterns, and potential sources of trace organic contaminants. DDTs (p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDE), hexachlorohexanes (HCHs) (alpha and gamma), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and PCBs were detected in the samples, whereas other target compounds were all below detection limits. Many OCPs have not been produced or used for many years due to toxicological or environmental concerns and PCB use is prohibited in Hong Kong. However, some compounds were still detectable in recent years, and were found to be widely distributed in the environment, likely because of pollutant inputs from the highly industrialized Pearl River Delta region. These results provide important information on current and historical contamination in Hong Kong, and help to reconstruct the pollution history of these trace organic pollutants in Hong Kong coastal waters.     

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in sediments from Hong Kong

Concentrations of 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were determined in 14 sediment samples collected from four sites in the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve (within a RAMSAR Site) and from another six sites in Victoria Harbour and along the Hong Kong coastline. Elevated levels of PCDDs, and particularly OCDD, were detectable in all samples collected from the Mai Po Marshes and five of the six sites. In contrast to PCDDs, PCDFs were mainly found in sediment samples collected from industrial areas (Kwun Tong and To Kwa Wan) in Victoria Harbour. PCDD/F levels and congener profiles in the samples from the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve in particular show strong similarities to those reported in studies which have attributed similar elevated PCDD concentrations to nonanthropogenic PCDD sources.     

香港的新构造断裂活动与天然山体滑坡关系的初步研究

香港沙田河沥背地区西北向断裂的左旋错断构造运动,在断裂两分支之间造成转变挤压型地块抬升,形成一菱形地垒。表土层大致均匀分布在地垒及其两侧地区,并且没有被埘北向断裂错动。而表土层所覆盖的古台地亦没有经过明显剥蚀。待得到河沥背表土层及邻近黄竹洋村天然山体滑坡定年结果资料,即可以给出河沥背断裂最新错动年龄范围及断裂活动与区内天然山体滑坡事件的相互关系。