River Pollution Causes Deadly Pathogenic Outbreaks of Sewage Fungus, Bacteria in the UK

Sewage pollution affecting rivers, waterways, and coastlines across the United Kingdom is causing a series of deadly pathogenic outbreaks. In a report on Monday, March 4, a UK expert in ecology warned that river pollution is causing the emergence of harmful epidemics of sewage fungus and sewage bacteria in the country. This ecological disaster threatens both aquatic life and terrestrial wild animals, as well as humans.

In similar cases, pathogens like fungi and bacteria have been recorded to cause serious health illnesses and even deaths for living organisms that consume contaminated water. Some of the most vulnerable groups are pets. In 2022, several dogs died after they drank water from a toxic lake located in East London. The lake is reportedly filled with toxic blue and green algae, which were found following a post-mortem of the animals.

Sewage Fungus Outbreak

In a report on Monday, postdoctoral research fellow Dania Albini, from the University of Exeter's Aquatic Ecology in England, reported that sewage pollution and the sewage fungus associated with is endangering aquatic life, human health, and the UK's economy. As frequent sewage fungus outbreaks is a manifestation of a polluted environment, Albini is calling governments, water companies, and regulators to take action.

The research fellow also clarified that sewage fungus is not entirely fungus, but rather it is a mixture of microscopic bacteria, viruses, and other organisms that can accumulate and form visible masses in water. In this context, the sewage fungus outbreak is becoming a significant issue for lakes, ponds, and rivers across the country. This is because sewage bacteria can multiply quickly in rivers and other nutrient-rich environments, according to the report.

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Sewage Pollution

The phenomenon of sewage pollution is common and it occurs around the world, and studies are warning that this type of pollution threatens biodiversity and overall ecosystem health, according to a research paper published in the journal Biological Conservation in 2021. Amid the threat, scientists recommend to prioritize the mitigation of the problem by authorities from the conservation and public health sectors.

Sewage pollution is caused by issues in several areas such as wastewater, sewage, and sanitation. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), sewage is part of wastewater contaminated with feces or urine and states that untreated sewage may contain various substances and pathogens, including viruses and protozoa. Moreover, wastewater is any water discharged by residential, commercial, agricultural, or industrial sectors.

Due to the prevalence of sewage contamination, river pollution is becoming a problem not only in the UK but also in other countries globally. In the United States, 3.5 million miles of rivers that span across the country "were treated like open sewers and garbage cans." This has left the bodies of water filled with feces, fertilizer, paint, oil, and other refuse, according to a 2022 report published in the Scientific American.