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16
Dec
'Complex mix of chemicals with unknown impacts on humans' found in River Nidd at Knaresborough
Dozens of pollutants, including some that could be there forever, have been detected in a section of the River Nidd following the most comprehensive tests so far.
Knaresborough Lido, which is part of the River Nidd, was granted bathing water status in May.
This required the Environment Agency to carry out weekly testing at the lido throughout the summer for the bacteria E. coli and intestinal enterococci.
But Nidd Action Group, which campaigned for the bathing water status, joined 22 other environmental groups in a nationwide scheme to test designated bathing waters for a broader range of chemicals.
The group took samples from the lido during a one-week period in the summer, and the newly published results revealed high levels of organic substances, including two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as 'forever chemicals' — synthetic chemicals that are difficult to break down and remove from the environment.
Dr David Clayden, chair of Nidd Action Group, said:
The lido had the sixth highest number and concentration of organics in this nationwide study. Of the more than 100 organic chemicals tested for, the lido had 41. This included 30 pharmaceuticals, 3 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and two pesticides. The top three pharmaceuticals found were a type 2 diabetes, an epilepsy and an antihistamine treatment.
The sheer variety of organic chemicals presents us with an alphabet soup of shorthand names to negotiate. It is a complex, emerging science requiring expert interpretation.
While the traces of these substances are small, together they form a complex mix of chemicals with unknown impacts on humans - which are currently not screened or monitored.
Dr Clayden said work must be now be done to understand how these chemcials get into the river and their impact, as well as to consider whether better monitoring systems are necessary.
He added:
This may involve all stakeholders in our rivers, not just water companies. Data on antimicrobial resistance from the study, as yet uninterpreted, may provide more clarity to the risks and options.
More than anything, this major study highlights the need to expand the monitoring regime to include a broader range of contaminants that may pose risks to human health, while continuing to reduce the dumping of sewage into our river and our bathing waters.
The Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water's plans for improving the water quality and the safety to humans of the river Nidd in general must include these emerging threats.
The Nidd testing formed part of a nationwide study conducted in collaboration with Surfers Against Sewage, Watershed Investigations and the University of York.
It hopes to raise awareness about the quality of bathing waters and the emerging pollutants which could pose a threat to public health.
'Inadequate testing'
Giles Bristow, chief executive at Surfers Against Sewage, said:
The saturation of our waterways with sewage pollution is well known, but these findings demonstrate there's a lot more than human waste lurking beneath the surface. With regulators and the government turning a blind eye, citizen scientists - like those in the Nidd Action Group – have acted to lift the lid on the toxic chemical cocktail that's leeching into our rivers, lakes and seas.
The true environmental and health impact of this slurry of pollutants, which include banned and carcinogenic forever chemicals, are still being revealed. Yet the government is allowing them to swamp the wild waters where we surf and swim, and where fragile ecosystems are already on the brink of collapse. Bathing regulations urgently need wholesale reform and the government's consultation, which is open right now, must deliver.
Mr Bristow added the findings should bring an end to an era of "inadequate" water quality testing.
"We've lifted the lid, now it's time to flush the pollutants our of our rivers, lakes and seas", he said.
You can have your say on the government's bathing water reforms here.
The Stray Ferret joined a Nidd Action Group testing session at the lido in July. While families soaked up the summer sun, three volunteers took water samples just a week after a reading showed faecal bacteria levels over 10 times the amount deemed adequate.
You can read the article here.
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