Scientists reveal dire threat to world’s water bodies from waste

Scientists have identified the most polluted water bodies, lakes, and rivers. The most significant amount of municipal solid waste – items of everyday use thrown away by people – ends up in aquatic environments in Africa and Asia.

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

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

In their project, experts from IIASA identified the watercourses and water bodies most at risk of 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 from 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 significant gap in the current understanding of waste management systems' importance in counteracting harmful environmental effects.

"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.