It’s no secret the environment doesn’t get treated as well as it should. Littering and oil pollution are both factors that contribute to the destruction of rivers. Even though there are hundreds of people who make efforts to clean up these messes, it’s difficult to erase them. If you don’t think the environment is as corrupted as everyone says, here are a few of the most polluted rivers in the world that’ll change your mind.
The Yellow River is the second longest river in China, and one of the most highly polluted by human and industrial waste. The water has been deemed unsafe for use of any kind; it’s not suitable to be used for drinking, for industrial use, or for agriculture. Back in 2006, the river even turned a reddish color, due to a strange substance that came out of a sewer and entered the famous river.
The Cuyahoga River is located in Ohio and feeds into Lake Erie. In the past, there weren’t strict regulations for sewer and waste disposal, which caused the river to become polluted with litter. The situation was so bad the river actually caught on fire when sparks from a passing train hit the “oil slick debris” floating in the river. Even though there are currently stricter regulations to prevent such a tragedy from happening again, and the level of pollution is much lower than it was in the past, it still remains one of the most polluted rivers in the world.
The Mississippi River is one of the most polluted rivers in the United States. Back in 2010, nearly 125 million pounds of toxic material was released into the river. Then, in 2013, a towboat sank and dumped nearly 31,500 gallons of oil into the river. In 2015, another boat ended up spilling about 420 gallons of oil into the same river.
Over 200 textile factories line the Citarum river, which is why the water is so filthy. The pollution is so bad the majority of the water is unable to be seen. It is covered by thousands of pieces of plastic, cardboard, and other debris. Even though it is one of the dirtiest rivers in the world, there are still families who must use it to clean, cook, and even drink.
What are you going to do to help the environment today?