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By Hanieh Salimian, Publishing Associate: Researcher and Writer at Save the Water™ | April 25, 2026
Edited by Jaslene Szeto, Publishing Associate: Editor at Save the Water™
Pongo de Rentema is a place in the Amazon area of Peru where three rivers meet. A lot of mining, farming, and human waste entering rivers happens here. A study of water pollution in Pongo de Rentema found a link between human, animal, and environmental health. This was part of a One Health approach. The results showed high levels of heavy metals and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Antimicrobial resistance happens when germs fight the drugs created to kill them. These germs cause serious health problems like infections that doctors cannot treat.
Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are germs that can live in places with a lot of heavy metals. Lead and chromium are heavy metals found in the rivers of Pongo de Rentema. Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are bacteria found in polluted river water in Pongo de Rentema. These bacteria had antimicrobial resistance genes. A gene is a tiny instruction inside a germ. Some genes tell germs how to survive. Antimicrobial resistance genes tell bacteria how to stay alive even when medicine tries to kill them. The antimicrobial resistance genes found were:
marA: Helps bacteria fight off commonly used antibiotics. Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria in people and animals.
ermC: Makes bacteria stronger against erythromycin, a medicine used to treat lung infections.
amp: Helps bacteria fight the ampicillin antibiotic.
QEP: Helps bacteria fight ciprofloxacin, a medicine used to treat infections in the urinary system, lungs, and stomach.
qEmarA: Helps bacteria fight fluoroquinolones. Doctors use this medicine when no other treatment works.
As a result, antibiotic resistance is dangerous because it allows bacteria to live and grow in polluted areas. Human activities increase heavy metal pollution in the rivers of Pongo de Rentema. These activities include:
Industrial: Informal gold mining is the main cause of heavy metal pollution in the rivers.
Agriculture: Fertilizers and pesticides add lead and chromium to the rivers.
Wastewater: A lack of basic sanitation is the source of untreated wastewater in the river. This water contains high levels of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.
Deforestation: Cutting down trees can also release heavy metal into water sources.
The health of people living near the Pongo de Rentema is at serious risk. They use water that has high levels of chemicals and antibiotic resistant bacteria for drinking, cleaning, and other daily use.
Common infections become harder to treat. Bacteria in the water can survive both mild and strong antibiotic treatments. This means that treatments that usually work may no longer be effective.
High levels of heavy metals such as lead and chromium are also dangerous. They can harm brain development and also cause cancer.
Antibiotic-resistant infections could cause more deaths than cancer globally if these environmental "reservoirs" are not managed by 2050.
Pongo de Rentema needs a system that tries to stop the root cause of chemical and biological pollution. Policies should focus on protecting human, animal, and environmental health. Governments need to monitor and track heavy metals and antibiotic resistant bacteria . Better wastewater treatment systems can help bring down pollution in the rivers. Moreover, programs to educate local people should focus on teaching:
- the risks of contamination in water,
- responsible use of antibiotics in humans and animals,
- how to protect water sources and the environment.
These efforts can help fight high antimicrobial resistance and reduce future risks.
Save the Water™ is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to conduct research to identify and remove harmful contaminants in water and to raise public awareness about water contamination and its health impacts.
