Meghan Hodges
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with over half of its species in decline. Pollution is a significant contributor to this decline, with waterways, air, soil, and light pollution all threatening wildlife. Water pollution, in particular, is a pressing issue, with agricultural waste, raw sewage, and chemical runoff from mines devastating freshwater habitats and wildlife. Plastic pollution is also a growing concern, with plastic waste killing marine life and disrupting ecosystems. Climate change is the second most significant factor affecting wildlife in the UK, causing shifts in species ranges, breeding success, and migration patterns. Intensive agriculture, with its use of pesticides and fertilisers, has led to soil deterioration and the loss of vital habitats for insects and birds. Light pollution disorients bats, moths, and migrating birds, while air pollution threatens native plant life and honeybees. These various forms of pollution have far-reaching consequences for the UK's diverse wildlife, from microscopic animals to large predators.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air Pollution | Nitrogen dioxide from car engines threatens native plant life, affecting around two-thirds of species. |
| Water Pollution | Agricultural waste, raw sewage, and pollution from abandoned mines are devastating freshwater habitats. |
| Sewage and slurry pollution in rivers cause nutrient levels to rise, leading to an increase in algal and plant growth, which chokes aquatic species. | |
| Pesticides and chemicals leaching into rivers kill and harm fish and invertebrates. | |
| Chemical pollution from active and abandoned mines is washing pollutants, such as heavy metals, into watercourses. | |
| Plastic pollution is an emerging threat to freshwater ecosystems, killing marine life and entering the human food chain. | |
| Eutrophication, caused by excess nutrients in water, leads to oxygen depletion and the suffocation of aquatic life. | |
| Water pollution from fertilisers and pesticides is threatening UK wildlife such as water voles and kingfishers. | |
| Light Pollution | Affects bats and moths, confusing migratory birds and making it harder for nocturnal species to navigate due to artificial lights. |
| Soil Pollution | Soil health has deteriorated due to intensive farming practices, impacting bird species and vital habitats for pollinating insects. |
| Noise Pollution | Not specified |
Plastic pollution
In addition to microplastics, larger pieces of plastic can also harm wildlife. Animals can become trapped and injured by plastic, and it can disrupt habitats, making it difficult for some species to live and breed naturally, leading to depletions in populations. For example, discarded fishing nets can capture and entangle marine mammals and fish, leading to starvation, injury, and vulnerability to predators. Plastic can also smother and break coral reefs, preventing healthy growth.
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Agricultural pollution
Agriculture is the dominant land use in the UK, covering around three-quarters of the country's land. It is, therefore, no surprise that it is the most significant cause of habitat change and species decline. The use of herbicides and pesticides, as well as intensive farming practices, have led to a decline in wildlife across arable and grassland farmland.
Pesticides and herbicides, used extensively in agriculture to control unwanted plants and insects, are also harmful to aquatic life. The contamination of drinking water with pesticides in the UK has been calculated to cost £120 million per year, with these costs passed on to consumers through water bills. Furthermore, pesticides and chemicals leaching into rivers can kill and harm fish and invertebrates.
Agricultural waste is another contributor to water pollution, with a recent report highlighting that waterbodies across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are being devastated by poor water quality caused by agricultural waste, among other factors. This has resulted in the decline of many species, with some facing extinction.
While plastic pollution and pharmaceutical residue are emerging threats, agricultural and wastewater pollution are currently recorded to have the largest impact on freshwater ecosystems in the UK.
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Water pollution
One of the main drivers of water pollution in the UK is agricultural waste. Fertilisers, manure, and slurry used in agriculture often contain high levels of nitrates and phosphates, which can spill into watercourses and cause eutrophication. Eutrophication leads to rapid plant growth, particularly algae, which uses up oxygen, turns the water green, and blocks out light, ultimately suffocating aquatic life. In addition, pesticides used in agriculture can contaminate water sources, harming aquatic plants and wildlife. The cost of treating contaminated drinking water in the UK has been estimated at £120 million per year, a cost passed on to consumers through their water bills.
Another significant source of water pollution is sewage. In 2020, water companies in England discharged raw sewage into rivers 400,000 times, and over 100,000 times in Wales. When raw sewage enters a river system, it is broken down by bacteria, creating ammonia, which increases alkalinity and consumes oxygen, essential for the survival of aquatic wildlife.
Pollution from abandoned mines is also a concern, particularly in England, where it is estimated that over 1,500 km of rivers are polluted by heavy metals and other toxins washed into local watercourses.
The impact of water pollution on wildlife is profound. It affects the entire food chain, from aquatic plants and invertebrates to fish, birds, and mammals. Some of the UK's most iconic species, such as otters, the swallowtail butterfly, and salmon, are under threat due to declining water quality in their habitats. Fish spawning grounds are lost to silt build-up, and feeding becomes more challenging as visibility decreases. Eutrophication and pollution events can lead to mass die-offs of freshwater fish and invertebrates, disrupting food chains and threatening the stability of aquatic ecosystems.
While plastic pollution and pharmaceutical residue are emerging threats, agricultural and wastewater pollution remain the most significant contributors to the decline in water quality in the UK. Urgent action is needed to protect freshwater ecosystems and the species that depend on them.
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Air pollution
In addition to pesticides, fertilisers used in agriculture contribute to air pollution. This has led to rising nutrient levels in the environment, particularly in soils and freshwaters. The application of nitrogen- and phosphate-based fertilisers has resulted in fertiliser runoff, causing vast algal blooms that suffocate aquatic wildlife.
The UK's departure from the EU has resulted in weaker regulations regarding toxic chemicals and pesticides, which has further exacerbated the issue of air pollution and its impact on wildlife.
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Light pollution
The exponential growth of artificial lighting across the globe has had a drastic impact on nocturnal animals, turning night into day. Nocturnal animals are active at night and sleep during the day. Light pollution radically alters their environment, and can confuse their natural behaviours, such as reproduction, nourishment, sleep, and protection from predators.
For example, artificial light can disrupt the breeding rituals of frogs and toads, as their nighttime croaking is part of their mating behaviour. It can also impact the feeding habits of bats, which use echolocation to navigate in low-light situations. If they encounter an area with artificial light, they may stop echolocating, making them more vulnerable to predators.
Birds are also affected by light pollution. Nocturnal birds use the moon and stars for navigation during migration, and artificial light can cause them to become disoriented, leading to collisions with buildings or towers. It can also impact their sleeping and eating patterns, as dimmed light prompts birds to fill their stomachs and return to their roosts.
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Frequently asked questions
Water pollution in the UK is caused by agricultural waste, raw sewage, and pollution from abandoned mines. This poor water quality has led to eutrophication, which is when there is an overabundance of nutrients in the water, causing algae blooms that suffocate aquatic wildlife. Sewage and slurry pollution in rivers cause nutrient levels to rise, which leads to large amounts of algal and plant growth, choking out aquatic species.
Air pollution, including nitrogen dioxide from car engines, threatens Britain's native plant life, affecting roughly two-thirds of species. These fumes can reduce honeybees' ability to recognize scents. Light pollution also affects bats and moths, confusing their nocturnal navigation.
Plastic pollution is devastating to UK wildlife because it does not simply disappear but breaks down into smaller pieces that are easily ingested. Plastic is toxic and can kill wildlife or make them more susceptible to disease. Animals can become trapped and injured by plastic, and it disrupts habitats, making it hard for some species to live and breed naturally, leading to depletions in populations.
