Pharmaceutical pollution of the world’s rivers is far more extensive than previously thought – so much so that it now poses a global threat to environmental and human health, according to new research.
- 80% of the world’s wastewater is discharged untreated into the environment.
- This is resulting in the drugs we use to improve health finding their way into our rivers.
- The concentration of pharmaceuticals in waterways is now reaching dangerous levels, posing a threat to the environment and human health.
- The solution is to improve sewage systems and wastewater treatment.
A team of scientists from York University in the UK took over 1,000 water samples from 258 rivers in 104 countries and found that many contained concentrations of medicinal drugs that exceeded safe levels.
Source: WeForum.org
