Research by The Rivers Trust and Wildlife and Countryside Link has revealed that toxic chemical mixtures were found at more than 1,600 river and groundwater sites in England including rivers in the region such as the Mersey and the Irwell
Up to 101 chemicals were identified in river samples, with sites along the rivers Mersey, Stour, Colne, Thames, Trent, Yare, Irwell, Medway, Humber and Avon among those containing the highest numbers of chemicals.
The actual numbers of chemical pollutants will be even higher
The River Mersey above Howley Weir had the highest number of individual chemicals present of any river in England.
As well as highlighting the huge scale of our chemical pollution problem, the research has called attention to the lack of official monitoring for known harmful chemical cocktails, as well as the lack of a regulatory framework to address these mixtures.
Chemicals can be emitted into the environment at any stage of their life cycle, from production through use, to disposal, and some have severe impacts on aquatic life. Moreover, multiple chemicals can be found in the same location within our rivers, and these chemical cocktails can compound the effects on the freshwater ecosystem. Chemical pollution of freshwaters also raises implications for human health through the consumption of freshwater fish and direct contact via recreational use, including bathing.
Richard Benwell, chief executive of WCL, said: “Government regulates and monitors chemicals individually, ignoring the cocktail effect. But our research shows that toxic combinations of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and forever chemicals are polluting rivers up and down the country.”
Photo credit David Padbury
