Paris Times

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
Monday, Jul 07, 2025

EU Warns of Mercury and Other Pollutants Contaminating Europe's Rivers

EU Warns of Mercury and Other Pollutants Contaminating Europe's Rivers

The European Commission indicates that pollution is prevalent in the water bodies of Europe, with member states requesting exceptions to environmental laws.
The European Commission has issued a severe warning about the condition of Europe’s waterways, disclosing that a significant number of rivers, lakes, and streams across the continent are heavily polluted with mercury and other contaminants.

This widespread contamination is contributing to an ongoing crisis in water quality, necessitating immediate action to tackle the problem.

According to the Commission’s most recent reports, fewer than 40 percent of the EU’s surface water bodies possess good ecological status, and only slightly more than a quarter comply with the necessary standards for chemical pollution, mainly due to mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

These pollutants remain in the environment for long periods, circulating through the air, land, water, and living organisms. These reports are part of the groundwork for a forthcoming EU Water Resilience Strategy, which is scheduled to be unveiled later this year.

European Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall stressed the importance of enhancing water resilience, pointing out threats that range from pollution to challenges in water supply and inadequate flood preparedness.

The strategy aims to guarantee access to clean water and enhance protection against water-related hazards. Mercury, primarily released through the burning of fossil fuels, and PAHs, stemming from both historical pollution and ongoing emissions, are significant factors in the poor chemical status of EU waterways.

Groundwater, which accounts for 65 percent of the EU’s drinking water supply, is in better shape, with 86 percent of groundwater bodies meeting good chemical standards.

Nevertheless, pollutants like nitrates originating from intensive agriculture and livestock farming continue to present challenges. In the Baltic Sea, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, largely from fertilizers, has considerably affected coastal waters.

The European Commission is contemplating stricter regulations for the agricultural sector, recognizing the necessity for farmer involvement in discussions about water management.

The report also highlighted the importance of the European Green Deal, which could help enhance water quality through initiatives such as the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.

Despite these initiatives, several EU member states have expressed intentions to seek exemptions from environmental regulations, including extending compliance deadlines or easing environmental standards.

The Commission is also directing its attention toward emerging pollutants, including PFAS, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals. The increasing issues of water scarcity and drought are becoming pressing concerns within the EU, with more countries pursuing exemptions due to the effects of prolonged droughts on their capacity to achieve water quality objectives.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
AI Management Experiment Shows Promise Despite Failures
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
UK Scientists Launch Synthetic Human Genome Project with £10 Million Funding
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Thai Prime Minister Discusses Bilateral Relations and Regional Issues with French President Emmanuel Macron
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
×