Pollution levels exceed the standard in 84 percent of China's 634 wastewater discharge outlets, China Business News reported on Friday.

An official from the pollution-control department of the State Environmental Protection Administration said China is now creating a report on sea protection, and will seek the support and cooperation of other countries at a meeting held in Beijing in October.

The meeting is for governments that attend the Global Program of Action for the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, a project that started in 1995.

The report said coastal cities are the most developed areas in China, so the growing economy and population threaten the environment in the sea and nearby rivers, urging companies in coastal areas to use non-phosphorous cleaning products.

China discharged 31.7 billion tons of wastewater into the sea, accounting for 60 percent of the country's wastewater.

Oil spills in the sea are a key source of the country's pollution. From 1976 to 2000, 2,353 oil spill accidents happened offshore, totaling 29,754 tons.

(Shanghai Daily September 30, 2006)