Most Polluted Waters? Study Reveals Aquatic 'Hotspots' of Pollution

The leakage of waste is a significant biodiversity threat to aquatic ecosystems.

Inadequate waste disposal, especially plastic waste, has been observed across major beaches, ocean basins, lakes, rivers, and even remote areas.

Waste in Aquatic Ecosystems

A study by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) examined waste management systems.

The study stressed the need for globally collaborative efforts to focus on responsible waste disposal management.

Based on the findings, the 2030 "zero waste leakages" goal is unlikely to be achieved. This could possibly jeopardize related Sustainable Development Goals.

Earlier studies have mainly focused on gauging plastic emissions within oceans. However, no study has comprehensively examined waste leakage within such environments from the perspective of waste management.

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Aquatic 'Hotspots' of Pollution

The researchers used a waste systems perspective to distinguish land-waste leakage hotspots and determine the coastal areas, lakes, and rivers that were notably at risk.

Findings reveal the need for urgent action.

Adriana Gomez Sanabria, the study's lead author and a researcher with the Pollution Management Research Group of the IIASA Energy, Climate, and Environment Program, noted that the survey reveals that most municipal solid waste leakage into aquatic ecosystems happens in China, South Asia, India, and Africa.

Municipal solid waste (MSW), or garbage or trash, consists of typical daily items discarded by the public. These could be food scraps, paper, cardboard, and textiles.

Gomez Sanabria explained that it is crucial to focus on improving waste management systems in these hotspots.

The study stresses that focusing on a single waste stream could result in unintended consequences. For instance, paper waste has shot up as paper cups have become a widespread substitute for single-use plastic cups. Several waste streams must be addressed at the same time.

The researchers note in the study that, based on estimates, future municipal waste generation on a global scale may rise by up to 20% in the sustainability pathway and 68% in the fossil-fueled path in 2050. This would depend on the assumed socio-economic pathway.

At present, a huge proportion of waste is scattered and mismanaged, resulting in global ocean and waterway pollution.

Land-based waste was identified as the primary source of marine litter, which consists of 80% plastic waste.

Though efforts have been made to stop plastics from entering the oceans, without the right waste management systems in place, it would be impossible to stop waste leakage.

Gomez-Sanabria noted that it is crucial to understand that waste management systems are primarily there to protect the environment and human health. As humans are the creators of waste crises and pollution, it is important to take responsibility by altering behavior through reuse, rethink, and refuse practices.