Scientific Co-operation with Phuket Marine Biological Station, Thailand

The overall aim of the Danida co-sponsored programme is science and technology transfer through co-operative research with the local Thai scientists. The first phase of the present project was a screening study of the occurrence of pesticides in surface water and of the risk for the adjacent marine environment as a result of the pesticide runoff. The scientific focus was a practical evaluation of a monitoring method using bioassays with algae and daphnia on XAD concentrated water samples. The method proved useful and revealed severe pesticide contamination of stream water but toxic impact on the marine environment was concluded to be unlikely because of a large dilution factor caused by tidal action.
The subsequent project activities have dealt with development and uses of marine algal toxicity tests with tropical algae. Temperature control was here a critical factor in addition to factors determining metal speciation. It has been found that metals toxicity increases with decreasing cell size. Initial studies of the heavy metals pollution in the Phuket area revealed no severe problems.