Director: Dr. CAI, Zongwei

In combination of the establishment of the Joint Institute of Environmental Sciences between HKBU and RCEES, a dioxin analysis program will be set up and a dioxin analysis laboratory will be built at HKBU in November of 2002. As the sole academic dioxin analysis laboratory in Hong Kong, this facility is to utilize our experience in environmental analysis, especially the expertise in dioxin analysis to support researches related to dioxins as well as other persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and to provide analytical service to our society.
Research on dioxins and other POPs has become increasingly important in Hong Kong and Mainland. There has been increasing need for dioxin analysis at trace levels in order to support scientific studies such as toxicological and human health effects, fate and transportation, prevention, and remediation of dioxins. Therefore, a successful dioxin analysis program will not only contribute to the already well-established scheme of Environmental Sciences and Analysis at HKBU but also benefit to Hong Kong public, environment and government.
Major objectives of the dioxin analysis program include:

• To establish analytical protocols for dioxin analysis based on our experience and certified standard procedures, to participate in local and international inter-laboratory quality control studies, and to achieve accreditation and recognition locally and internationally.
  
• To conduct research on the development and validation of new analytical techniques for higher-throughput dioxin screening, with the assistance of the developed standard analytical program.
  
• To provide analytical services to academic and governmental projects of environmental studies on dioxins and other POPs, including collaborations with Hong Kong Environment Protection Department and United Nation Environmental Programs.
  
• To build up a comprehensive database for research and development in environmental management, as well as the provision of technical advice and services to industrial sectors, government departments and the general public.