'Too many' harmful chemicals in European rivers

Recent research has found that there are too many harmful chemicals in European rivers, which is having a significantly detrimental effect on European seas, it has been reported by the Baltic Course. 

The research, published in Bouraoui F and Grizzetti B's book Long-Term Change of Nutrient Concentrations of Rivers Discharging in European Seas, finds that European legislation on river pollution quality is not having an impact, as the amount of nitrate and phosphate that runs into the sea from European rivers is still at dangerous levels.

The effects of pollutions in rivers are numerous, but they are primarily of concern due to the excess algae that it creates. The boom in algae strips the oxygen from the water which is harmful for the fish and other animals that live in the waterways. Controlling discharge of nutrients from human sources, including agricultural fertilisers and wastewater, has been a key aspect of EU environmental legislation.

Over all, the data that was collected from databases between 1990 and 2005 from 39 European river outlets found that nitrate pressure for the EU-15 Member States has fallen by 32 per cent since 1990, thanks mainly to a reduction of 13 per cent in fertiliser use.

Wastewater input remained stable, and nitrates and phosphates went down. However, the levels of pollutants are still at an unsafe level, and although levels were found to be declining, many countries have been slow to implement EU legislation.

Posted by Joseph Hutton