News Ecosystems

Many of the world’s rivers are flush with dangerous levels of antibiotics

Polluted waterways help fuel drug resistance in bacteria

Odaw River

DRUGGED UP  A global survey found antibiotics in about two-thirds of 711 river sites tested, including in the Odaw River running through Ghana’s capital of Accra (shown).

Rob Marchant

By Carolyn Wilke

- More than 2 years ago

In a massive survey of rivers across 72 countries, researchers found antibiotics at 66 percent of 711 sites sampled.