The latest State of the Thames report, released by the Zoological Society of London, found that cleanup efforts over recent decades have brought down levels of chemicals such as phosphorus and conserved salt marshes for birds and fish, making the river “home to myriad wildlife as diverse as London itself.”
The report also highlighted many challenges the Thames faces, including rising water temperatures and sea levels due to climate change. For instance, summer temperatures in parts of the river have increased an average of 0.19 degrees Celsius (0.34 degrees Fahrenheit) each year since 2007, researchers found. Even slight alterations in seasonal heat may upset the river’s ecosystem and erode living habitats.
The researchers also found elevated nitrate concentration that threatens water quality. Much of London’s drinking water comes from the river.
River Thames became heavily polluted during the Industrial Revolution as toxic runoffs from tanneries and human waste found their way to the river. The “Great Stink” of 1858, caused in part by human sewage flowing into the Thames, forced the British Parliament to build better wastewater disposal systems.
The Thames may be free of much toxic waste these days, but it has one of the higher concentrations of microplastics in the world, reportedly ahead of other urban waterways such as the Chicago River and the Danube in Europe, according to a study from British scientists.