Thousands of unseen chemicals quietly contaminate UK rivers

A major study in Yorkshire reveals that UK rivers are contaminated by thousands of hidden chemicals, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and everyday household substances. Researchers from the University of York’s Ecomix project detected over 4,000 chemicals in the River Foss alone, such as antibiotics, tire additives, and paracetamol. Sampling 10 rivers at 19 sites, the study linked many pollutants to farming, roads, sewage, and common products like antihistamines and cosmetics.

These chemical mixtures disrupt aquatic ecosystems, affecting multiple food chain levels and causing biodiversity loss comparable to sewage pollution. Substances like antidepressants and UV filters alter fish behavior, reduce reproduction, and harm invertebrates vital to birds and fish. Unlike visible plastic waste, chemical pollution is invisible, persistent, and difficult to reverse. With over 350,000 chemicals in use globally and thousands more added yearly, inadequate regulation risks further contamination, threatening both wildlife and human health.

04-06-2025