Fri May 30 00:00:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

A recent study published in Science Advances reveals that pollutants from contaminated rivers entering the ocean can become aerosolized and carried inland, posing potential health risks. Researchers tracked pollutants in the Tijuana River near the U.S.-Mexico border, finding that wastewater compounds like sunscreen ingredients, tire additives, prescription drugs, and illicit drugs (including methamphetamine) were aerosolized and detected in the air near the river mouth. The study estimates significant amounts of these pollutants are released into the air from polluted coastlines worldwide, raising concerns about the chronic health effects on coastal communities who regularly inhale these substances.

**News Article:**

**Coastal Pollution Alert: River Contaminants Can Become Airborne, Study Finds**

**Chennai, India – May 30, 2025** – New research is highlighting the dangers of river pollution extending beyond the water, with pollutants now known to become airborne and potentially inhaled by coastal populations. The study, published in *Science Advances*, reveals that contaminated rivers flowing into the ocean can release a cocktail of chemicals into the air, posing unknown risks to human health.

The research team focused on the Tijuana River flowing into the Pacific Ocean along the U.S.-Mexico border. Scientists found that compounds like sunscreen ingredients (octinoxate), tire rubber additives (dibenzylamine), pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and even illicit drugs such as methamphetamine, were present in the air near the river mouth. These substances become aerosolized, effectively turning ocean spray into a carrier of pollutants.

The study estimates that polluted coastlines worldwide could release tens of thousands of tons of sunscreen chemicals and dozens of tons of tire additives into the air annually. While the amount of individual substances inhaled by a person near a polluted river may be small, the long-term effects of breathing this complex mix of chemicals remain largely unknown.

“This is a significant concern, particularly for marginalized communities and those who rely on coastal environments for their livelihoods, like fishermen,” said one of the researchers in the study. “We need to address river pollution at its source to protect not only our waterways but also the air we breathe.”

The findings resonate in India, where many rivers have been severely polluted by industrial and urban waste, as shown with the Adyar river in Chennai. The study underscores the urgent need for improved wastewater treatment and pollution control measures to protect the health of coastal communities around the world.

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