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Which harmful substances have been found in the Ganges River?

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Physical map showing the Brahmaputra and Ganges river basins and their drainage networks across northern India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet (China), and Myanmar. The map uses color shading to indicate elevation, from the high Himalayas in brown and white to lowland plains in green, and marks major rivers, tributaries, glaciers, dams, irrigated areas, and regions subject to flooding. An inset locator map highlights the region within South Asia. — Ganges River The Brahmaputra and Ganges river basins and their drainage network.

The Ganges River suffers from severe environmental degradation due to its location in one of the world's most densely populated regions. The river is contaminated by a variety of harmful substances and pollutants, including:

Toxic Metals: High levels of chromium, cadmium, and arsenic have been identified in the water.1
Biological Contaminants: The river contains high levels of disease-causing bacteria.21
Industrial and Agricultural Waste: The water is polluted by industrial effluents, chemical runoff from modern agricultural activities, and untreated sewage dumped by numerous cities and towns.321
Organic Matter: The river is further impacted by animal carcasses and the remains of partially burned or unburned bodies from funeral pyres.21

The accumulation of these substances is exacerbated by the diversion of water for agricultural use, which leaves the river with insufficient flow to assimilate the waste. While programs like the Namami Gange have made progress in improving water quality and expanding sewage treatment infrastructure, the river remains a critical site of water pollution concerns.31