{"id":526,"date":"2026-04-28T09:17:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T09:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/bbc-wildlife\/?p=526"},"modified":"2026-04-28T09:17:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T09:17:55","slug":"most-polluted-rivers-iworld","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/bbc-wildlife\/2026\/04\/28\/most-polluted-rivers-iworld\/","title":{"rendered":"“Parts of it have so little oxygen, they are considered \u2018ecologically dead.\u2019” 10 most polluted, toxic rivers on the planet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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WILDLIFE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Parts of it have so little oxygen, they are considered \u2018ecologically dead.\u2019” 10 most polluted rivers on the planet <\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Rivers are vital for life. They provide fresh water for drinking and food production. They are homes for wildlife, reduce the risk of flooding and help to mitigate the effects of climate change. Yet, they are under threat.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Words by<\/em> HELEN PILCHER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

April 28th, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Crispin La Valiente\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

More than half<\/a> of all rivers have been affected by human activities. Over 80<\/a>% of the world\u2019s wastewater is released into the environment without treatment. Plastic pollution, agricultural runoff and industrial waste are significant problems too \u2013 they are killing wildlife, damaging ecosystems and creating hazards for human life. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are ten of the world\u2019s most polluted rivers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 most polluted rivers<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

River Salween<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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surachetsh\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The River Salween is Asia\u2019s\u00a0longest free-flowering river<\/a>\u00a0and one of the world\u2019s most polluted\u00a0rivers<\/a>. After rising in the Tibetan Plateau, the Salween flows through China and Myanmar, where it briefly acts as the border with Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a lifeline for the communities that live on its banks, and a biodiversity hotspot, but the water contains arsenic levels\u00a0five times the global safety standard<\/a>. High levels of\u00a0sulphur, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc<\/a>\u00a0have also been found.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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