Rivers of refuse: Report exposes world's most polluted waters

Scientists have identified the most waste-polluted bodies of water, lakes and rivers. Most municipal solid waste—everyday items discarded by people—ends up in the aquatic environments of Africa and Asia.

As scientists from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) emphasize, waste entering aquatic ecosystems significantly threatens biodiversity and human health.

The precise effects of improper waste handling, including plastic, can be seen in most ocean areas, beaches, rivers, and lakes. The problem even affects the Arctic and Antarctica, but the worst situation is in Africa and some countries in Asia, such as China and India.

Experts from IIASA, in their project, identified the most vulnerable water streams and bodies to such pollution. "Our study shows that the majority of leakage of municipal solid waste – everyday items that are discarded by people – into aquatic environments occur in Africa, China, India, and South Asia. It’s necessary to start focusing on improving waste management systems in these affected areas," admitted Adriana Gomez Sanabria, the lead author of the publication on this topic, which appeared in the journal "Nature Communications."

The research results of IIASA scientists also reveal interesting and important details. "Our analysis shows that there is a pressing need to establish a standardized framework to monitor waste generation, composition, and flows. Such a system should help us track the effectiveness of actions, including political, economic, and technological, aimed at reducing waste volumes and improving waste management systems," noted Florian Lindl, co-author of the study.

Scientists claim that their study fills a crucial gap in our current understanding of the importance of waste management systems in mitigating various harmful environmental impacts.

"We need to understand that the primary function of waste management systems is to protect human health and the environment. As creators of the waste crisis, we must take responsibility by changing our behaviour to reduce consumption through refuse, rethink, and reuse practices," summarizes Gomez Sanabria.