29 Oct 2024
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Known as one of the most polluted rivers in the world, the Citarum River has absorbed waste from over 2,000 factories along its banks, including toxic metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium. The river's water is undrinkable and unsuitable for agricultural use, though it supports millions who live nearby.
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A major tributary of the Ganges, the Yamuna suffers from excessive contamination due to untreated sewage and industrial discharge from the cities it flows through. The river turns toxic as it leaves Delhi, affecting communities downstream.
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Though culturally significant, the Ganges is severely polluted by industrial waste, religious rituals, and untreated sewage. Efforts to clean it have been extensive, but pollution levels remain high, particularly near large cities.
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As one of the longest rivers in North America, the Mississippi collects agricultural runoff from multiple states, leading to nutrient pollution. This causes hypoxic zones in the Gulf of Mexico, harming marine life and water quality.
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Once a thriving waterway, the Pasig River now struggles with extreme pollution from household and industrial waste. Cleanup initiatives have begun, but decades of neglect have taken their toll, leaving the river biologically dead in some stretches.
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Known as "China’s Sorrow" due to its flooding and pollution issues, the Yellow River is heavily contaminated by industrial waste. Approximately one-third of the river is too toxic for agriculture or drinking.
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This river flows through an industrial region, leading to contamination from metals like chromium and lead, making it one of the world's most polluted rivers. It has been a focus of cleanup efforts by local and international organizations.
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Polluted from the nearby Queenstown mines, the King River has high concentrations of copper, lead, and zinc, rendering the river lifeless in certain stretches and impacting the surrounding ecosystems.
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The Sarna River has been exposed to pollution from radioactive waste and heavy metals due to nearby industrial and nuclear facilities, creating hazardous conditions for local wildlife and communities.
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The Buriganga River has been used as a dumping ground for Dhaka’s tanneries, which discharge untreated waste, including chromium and other chemicals. The river is critical to local livelihoods, but its pollution has made it highly toxic.
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