3/2/07 明報 Mingpao
Due to water pollution from city development, the mangrove at Shenzhen Bay was reduced by half in the past 20 years. Plant diversity has dropped by more than 60%. The level of copper in the area exceeds China’s national standard. Studies by HKU and CityU indicate high levels of heavy metal and mercury in sediments at Mai Po. Lew Young commented that such pollutant could accumulate in birds up the food chain and increase their mortality. Recent studies also found high levels of insecticides in egrets. Lew urged the governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen to work together against illegal waste water discharge to the Deep Bay.
深圳紅樹林污染波及港濕地
【明報專訊】粵港共同面對的環境問題不止空氣污染，內地傳媒報道，受城市開發及污水影響，深圳灣紅樹林在過去20年的面積大幅銳減五成，植物品種減少逾六成，紅樹林內的重金屬銅含量超出國家標準，鄰近的香港后海灣濕地也受到影響。
據悉，漁護署委託港大及城大的研究顯示，米埔沉積物的重金屬及水銀含量均錄得偏高水平。米埔自然保護區經理楊路年表示，重金屬可透過食物鏈在雀鳥體內累積，長遠可能會影響存活率，近年有研究顯示，白鷺體內殺蟲劑含量偏高，值得關注，他促請粵港政府共同打擊非法排放污水，改善后海灣水質。
