Overview on land-based pollutant sources and activities affecting the marine, coastal, and freshwater environment in the Pacific Islands Region

Abstract

There is a high level of uncertainty with the specific estimation of pollutant loads. A large body of work has been completed that provided qualitative and quantitative data; however, the noting of data gaps and inherent uncertainties of the methods used have qualified much of the quantitative data. Much of the data are based on rapid assessment methods that utilise generic loading rates, assumed waste flow composition, typical production methods, local production rates. Unfortunately, production rate data are inconsistently available and are difficult to verify.