Scientists have announced a catastrophic decrease in oxygen levels in the rivers of the world

Scientists have warned about the global process of deoxygenation of rivers caused by climate change, which threatens freshwater ecosystems around the world. The study showed that long-term oxygen depletion affected most river systems, with rivers in tropical latitudes being the most vulnerable. This was reported on May 16 by Science Daily magazine.

The analysis revealed a clear global trend: the average rate of decrease in oxygen levels was 0.045 mg/l over 10 years. Signs of deoxygenation were found in 78.8% of the rivers studied.

The most significant losses were recorded in tropical rivers located between 20 degrees south and north latitude, including the territory of India. This surprised experts, as it was previously assumed that rivers at high latitudes, where warming is more intense, are most at risk. However, it turned out that tropical waters initially have a lower oxygen concentration, which, combined with a high rate of oxygen loss, quickly leads to hypoxia, a condition in which aquatic life becomes impossible.

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According to the publication, the main driver of the global decrease in oxygen content was a decrease in its solubility due to climate warming - this factor accounts for 62.7% of the observed changes. The researchers also found that heat waves accelerate this process, providing 22.7% of the total volume of deoxygenation. Another 12% of the changes are related to ecosystem metabolism, which is influenced by light, temperature, and current velocity.

Special attention is paid to the influence of dams. Scientists have found that the effect depends on the depth of reservoirs: siltation and stagnation of water in shallow water accelerate oxygen loss, while deep reservoirs, on the contrary, contribute to a certain slowdown of this process in flooded areas.

The authors emphasize that the data obtained should become a scientific foundation for policy makers when developing strategies to protect freshwater ecosystems. In their opinion, measures to mitigate the effects of climate change in tropical rivers should become a priority to prevent an environmental disaster.

On March 21, Science Daily magazine reported on the effect of "eternal chemicals" on children's bones. This type of chemicals includes polyfluoroalkyl substances, synthetic compounds widely used in industry and everyday goods. According to the researchers, their exposure at an early age can negatively affect the formation of bone tissue in children and adolescents, especially in girls.