Pollution Along the Rhine River

Throughout human history, water has played a dual role as a life-giving liquid and as a resource for waste disposal. Without careful management, these two roles can conflict, with potentially dangerous results. This video documents the polluted condition of the Rhine River and one of its tributaries, the Emscher, in 1990. It also shows how some pollutants enter the river, and discusses some studies which were conducted to examine the effects of the pollution on fish and seals in the river and in the North Sea, where it empties. The segment is three minutes forty-four seconds in length. Educational levels: High school, Middle school