This interactive map estimates the amounts of nitrogen and pathogens released in coastal areas around the world from sewage sources.
Scientists from the United States created the first high-resolution map that captures the impact of human wastewater on coastal ecosystems around the world, according to the specialized magazine published on Wednesday. Plos One.
This interactive map, developed by the University of Santa Barbara in California and the Tuholske House Institute, estimates the amounts of nitrogen and pathogens released in coastal areas around the globe, from human wastewater sources of all kinds, including sewers. , septic systems and untreated remains.
The analysis of the more than 130,000 hydrographic basins studied indicates that human wastewater introduce 6.2 teragrams of nitrogen into coastal ecosystems per year, about 40% of the estimated residues from agriculture.
You can access this interactive map by clicking here
Of this nitrogen, 63% comes from sewage systems; 32% of the waste not treated; and 5% of human septic systems.
The scientists also found that most of the watersheds with high nitrogen levels from human sewage are found in India, Korea and China.
In addition, the map was used to determine that the Chang Jiang River, in China, contributes 11% of the world’s total wastewater.
The researchers also identified hot spots for the exposure of coral reefs to nitrogen in China, Kenya, Haiti, India and Yemen.
In an article in that scientific journal, the map’s creators explained that human wastewater can introduce disease-causing pathogens and nitrogen into the ocean, which can affect human health, as well as coastal ecosystems and the communities that depend on them for purposes such as fishing.
However, they lamented that most research on the impact of humans on coastal ecosystems has focused on agricultural residues, while research on human wastewater “has been limited.”
“The magnitude of the amount of wastewater that impacts coastal ecosystems around the world is staggering,” added the researchers, who said they hope this map will lead to identifying priority areas that help marine conservation groups and policy making. public to improve the situation. (I)
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