HK ship pollution causes most number of deaths in region, says study

A think tank founded by Christine Loh Kung-wei, now environment undersecretary, found that Hong Kong has suffered the most from ship emissions in the Pearl River Delta, accounting for 75% of deaths related to sulfur dioxide released from vessels. Researchers of Civic Exchange who conducted a five-year study suggest that the air quality at Kwai Chung and Tsim Sha Tsui could be the worst hit by ship pollutants.
The think tank has urged the city administration to be more proactive in tightening restrictions and to seek support from its mainland counterparts. It also suggested that the city should ask the International Maritime Organization to set up an emission control area, which will require ships to switch to 0.1% sulfur fuel when they are within 100 nautical miles of Hong Kong. Such a move could reduce deaths related to sulfur dioxide by 91%, it said. It was also suggested that the government make it compulsory for ships to switch their fuel to 0.5% sulfur at berth. The suggestion follows the Fair Winds Charter, and two years ago, 18 shipping lines agreed to comply. The agreement will end in December.
According to the Civic Exchange report, which was jointly issued by the University of Science and Technology and the University of Hong Kong, 385 of the 519 deaths were directly related to sulfur dioxide from ship emissions in the region. Ninety-three deaths occurred in the inner Pearl River Delta region and 42 deaths in the outer region. Lai Hak-kan, a research assistant professor at Hong kong University who contributed to the report, said the figures were probably underestimated, as the researchers had not taken long-term health effects of sulfur dioxide into account. The chemical can cause cancer and diseases in the heart and blood vessels.
Roberto Giannetta, Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association secretary, said it would cost a shipping line US$2 million a year to switch from conventional bunker fuel to low-sulfur fuel. He also said that it is not common practice for ships in Hong Kong to use low- sulfur fuel because it is not available in the city. (September 20, 2012)