Source Inventories
All nine initial Convention POPs pesticides (i.e., aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, HCB, mirex and toxaphene) and six new pesticides (i.e. α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), chlordecone, lindane (γ-HCH), PeCB and endosulfan) were either not registered or had their registration status cancelled for many years due to toxicological or environmental concern.
During the period of 2011 to 2013, the Convention non-pesticides POPs were observed among the activities of local laboratories and traders.
Dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs) are unintentional by-products of industrial and combustion processes. Inventories of dioxin/furans in Hong Kong were also compiled in the updated HKSARIP by adopting the refined framework established by the UNEP. In 2012, there was an annual emission of 46.5 g TEQ* dioxins/furans to the local environment via all vectors (air, water, land, product and residues). The major route of release was “residues”, accounting for 84.3% of the total, followed by “air” (10.7%) and “land” (4.0%). On a “per capita” basis, the 2012 annual dioxin/furan release in Hong Kong was generally similar to those of Switzerland and the US, and comparable with the EU countries.
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* g TEQ = gram toxicity equivalent
