A global study reveals toxic pollution in rivers across multiple countries, including Spain and Ethiopia, threatening ecosystems and public health. Significant findings highlight the Manzanares River in Madrid as Europe’s most polluted, raising concerns about pharmaceutical contaminants. The urgent need for improved waste treatment technologies is emphasized to combat this growing crisis.
A recent study has uncovered severe toxic pollution in rivers from various countries, including Spain, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and India, thereby posing serious risks to global ecosystems and public health. Researchers examined over 200 rivers worldwide to assess their water quality, revealing extensive contamination levels prevalent in these water bodies.
The study, emphasizing the Manzanares River in Madrid as the most contaminated in Europe, highlights alarming concentrations of harmful substances such as paracetamol, caffeine, and antibiotics. This river’s pollution exemplifies the dangers posed to both human health and the environment within urban settings.
Conducted by experts from the University of York, the research analyzed water samples from 1,052 locations across 104 countries, testing for 61 pharmaceutical compounds. The results revealed that 25.7% of the studied rivers contained pharmaceutical pollutants at levels detrimental to aquatic life, leading to potential reproduction and survival issues for these organisms.
Moreover, the presence of antibiotics in surface waters raises concerns about the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, presenting a significant global health threat. The findings indicate that the issue extends beyond Europe, with rivers in Africa and Asia displaying similar or greater pollution levels.
In Africa, nations like Ethiopia and Nigeria report the highest levels of river contamination, while Pakistan and India face severe toxic situations in their water systems. The urgent need for enhanced investments in waste management technologies and efficient treatment methods is underscored to tackle and mitigate the pollution crisis affecting many regions.
This study reveals alarming levels of toxic pollution in rivers, particularly the Manzanares in Madrid. With over 25% of tested rivers worldwide contaminated with harmful pharmaceuticals, there is an urgent need for more effective treatment systems and policy changes to safeguard public health and ecosystems. Addressing the issue is critical to prevent worsening the global health crisis caused by antibiotic resistance and other environmental hazards.
Original Source: www.travelandtourworld.com
