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Water & Pollution

Documented pollution hotspots across ocean and freshwater systems, from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to the Gulf of Mexico's recurring dead zone.

Published July 2026 Last reviewed July 2026 Data points 6 Evidence level Strong
Plastic / chemical pollution Nutrient runoff / dead zone

Documented dead zones have more than tripled globally since 2004, from roughly 150 to over 500 sites, with agricultural nutrient runoff as the primary driver in most coastal cases.