Probe Urged Into Microplastics Pollution From Turf

The charity Plastic Free Seas on Thursday called on government departments to investigate whether microplastics from their artificial pitches around the city are entering the environment.

The call came after it commissioned an analysis into more than two tonnes of rubber crumb that has been washing into Yi Pak Wan in Discovery Bay since late July.

The test, conducted by the University of Hong Kong’s Environmental Geochemistry and Oceanography Research Group, found the material was very likely the same as the rubber infill used on the North Plaza pitch in Discovery Bay.

Dana Winograd, director of operations for Plastic Free Seas, said the test results had backed up their initial suspicion about the source of the rubber crumb.

“It has to be very local… and all indications would lead to it being from the pitch, but we don’t have conclusive evidence other than the fact the material is the same and the drains lead very close by,” she said.

Plastic Free Seas said the government should now look into whether this is a widespread problem, as infill material is generally from used tyres and can contain chemicals and heavy metals that can harm the environment.

“I’d also like the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), who’s in charge of all our artificial pitches around Hong Kong, of which there are probably around 45, to look into this problem because it is a global problem,” Winograd told RTHK’s Richard Pyne.

“I’m hoping that the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), which should now be aware of this potential pollution source, can work together with the LCSD to look at this problem and figure out how they can prevent it from continuing to be a problem.”

She said the EPD should also continue their own investigation into the matter at Yi Pak Wan, and work on their emergency response to situations like this.

“I still haven’t received an answer to what a person should do if they find an emergency like this,” she said. “The clean-up effort was pretty good to begin with, but I don’t believe the investigation has been done well enough.”