Western Europe's Artery: The Rhine

This article covers the century-long attempts to come to terms with the pollution of the Rhine river by dangerous chemicals, chlorides and other adverse human impacts on its quality. It demonstrates how, little by little, the combined efforts of the adjacent countries have succeeded, even though the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Natural resources journal 1996-07, Vol.36 (3), p.441-454
Main Author: DE VILLENEUVE, CAREL H.V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arteries
Chemical water pollution
Chlorides
Environmental cleanup
Environmental conditions
Environmental policy
Environmental protection
Europe, West
International agreements
International aspects
International cooperation
LEAD ARTICLES
Political parties
Pollution control
Pollution monitoring
Regulation
Rhine river
Rivers
Rivers (Rhine)
Salmon
Water pollution
Water quality
Western Europe
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Summary:This article covers the century-long attempts to come to terms with the pollution of the Rhine river by dangerous chemicals, chlorides and other adverse human impacts on its quality. It demonstrates how, little by little, the combined efforts of the adjacent countries have succeeded, even though there is still much to be done. It also addresses how the International Commission for the Pollution of the Rhine gradually extended—and is still extending—the scope of its activities from mere pollution control to an ecosystem approach of the catchment and to a more integrated management of water quality and quantity. It illustrates how, in 1986, decennia-long stagnation changed virtually overnight due to the Sandoz accident near Basel. Finally, it asserts the value of working with non-legally binding international policy agreements along with comprehensive regulatory standards.
ISSN:0028-0739
2640-2149