‘The water is dead’: Life along the Mekong faces a growing toxic threat (opens original article in a new tab)

Pollution from illegal mining in Myanmar is contaminating the Mekong River with toxic heavy metals, threatening ecosystems and human health in Southeast Asia.

• Researchers and activists link Mekong River pollution to illegal mining in Myanmar's civil war zone
• Arsenic levels in Mekong sediment exceed dangerous thresholds, affecting aquatic life and human health
• Thai fisherman report declining business and health concerns due to river contamination
• Local communities and activists demand regional cooperation and accountability for environmental damage
• Mekong River Commission strengthens monitoring but faces limited participation from key nations