Aquatic contaminants in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu: Evidence from passive samplers and Microtox toxicity assessment

Water Quality issues in many Pacific countries are rising, with the increase coastal populations and associated urban runoff but management requires contamination aquatic environment to be identified prioritised. In Vanuatu Solomon Islands there few laboratories resources assess for presence or impact of complex chemical contaminants. The extent marine is poorly described. Passive samplers were used measure a range pollutants around capital cities, Honiara (Solomon Islands) Port Vila (Vanuatu). We detected chemicals indicative agricultural industrial sites had concerning concentrations specific hydrocarbons pesticides. rapid ecotoxicology test, Microtox, indicated toxic impacts rivers, drains This work provides new data on possible that both countries. techniques could applied widely across region generate critical environmental management, guide monitoring efforts policy land-use changes.