Acidsulfatesoils(ASS)containconsiderableamountsofreducedsulfurcompounds(mainlypyrite)whichproducesulfuricacidupontheiroxidation.ASS-derivedenvironmentaldegradationwidelyoccursinthecoastallowlandsaroundtheworld,especiallyinthetropicalandsubtropicalareas.ThepresenceofASSiuntheSouthChinahasbeenrecognizedbuttheirdistributionmaybelargelyunderestimatedbecausethesoilsurveydataconcerningASSarebasedonunreliablemethodsandtechniques.ASSintheSouthChinahavebeentraditionallyusedforricecultivationandthispracticehasbeenprovedsustainableifappropriateimprovementmeasuresareadopted.Recently,therapideconomicgrowthintheregionhasresultedinintensifiedcoastaldevelopmentwhichfrequentlyinvolvesactivitiesthatmaydisturbASS,Constructionofroads,foundationsandaquaculturepondsmaycausetheexposureofASStoairandbringaboutsevereenvironmentalacidificvation.Thereiscurrentlyinsufficientawarenessoftheproblemsamongtheresearchers,policy-makersandlandmanagersintheSouthChina.MoreattentionmustbepaidtothepossibleASS-dervivedenvironmentaldegradationinordertoensureasustainabledevelopmentofthecoastallowlandsintheSouthChinaregion.
