South has ‘highest proportion of rivers and lakes with toxic chemical cocktails’
The IndependentSign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Southern regions of the UK have the highest proportions of rivers and lakes to contain toxic chemical cocktails, according to new research. Despite containing rivers that had some of the highest number of individual chemicals identified – including The Stour, Thames and Medway – lakes and groundwaters in London and the South East had fewer of these chemical cocktails present than the average. But the South West was still found to rank poorly across the board, with 72% of groundwater sites found to have the chemical cocktails present. The region also had the highest proportion of river, lake and ground sites to contain three or more of these chemical combinations and up to 91 chemicals found in individual rivers.
History of this topic
London tap water contaminated by ‘forever’ chemicals
The Independent
Hundreds of chemicals including PFAS and PCBs found polluting the Colne
The Independent
Farm pesticides, chemicals and medicines wiping out life in rivers, study says
The IndependentDiscover Related
