Assessment of Trends in River and Direct Inputs of Contaminants to the Marine and Coastal Environment in the NOWPAP Region: Regional Overview

This technical report assesses trends in river and direct inputs of contaminants to the marine and coastal environment in the Northwest Pacific Action Plan region, covering China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Russia. It compiles national monitoring information and data for 2007–2016 to examine river water quality, contaminant inputs and changes over the preceding decade. The report describes national monitoring networks, assessment methods, environmental standards and approaches used to measure water quality and wastewater discharges. It compares monitoring procedures and standards across the four countries and identifies differences affecting regional assessment. It also examines riverine contaminant loads, temporal trends in water quality and direct inputs, and the relative contribution of different contaminant sources to the regional marine environment.