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New research from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) shows a marked decline in the river\u2019s ecological condition between the summers of 2020 and 2025.<\/p>\n
The deterioration is particularly evident along the section between Kokkinos Mylos and Kymis Avenue, an area surrounded by major industrial activity.<\/p>\n
The findings emerged as authorities separately detected a tanker allegedly dumping liquid industrial waste into a storm drain connected to the river.<\/p>\n
HCMR researchers assess the health of the river partly by examining macroinvertebrates, including insect larvae and other small aquatic organisms living in the water.<\/p>\n
The types and numbers of these organisms provide an important indication of water quality.<\/p>\n
Polluted water tends to support species that can survive with lower oxygen levels, while species that require cleaner, oxygen-rich water decline.<\/p>\n
Elias Dimitriou, a freshwater researcher at HCMR, told Kathimerini<\/em> that the presence of more pollution-tolerant species indicates worsening conditions.<\/p>\n The Kifissos remains in relatively better condition closer to its mountain sources and near its outlet at Faliro Bay.<\/p>\n However, the broader picture has deteriorated sharply.<\/p>\n Between 2012 and the summer of 2020, most seasonal samples classified the ecological quality of the river\u2019s macroinvertebrate communities as moderate or good, with only a small number rated poor.<\/p>\n Since 2020, the vast majority of samples have been classified as poor, while one sample received a bad rating.<\/p>\n Researchers say the Kifissos has suffered from pollution for decades, with measurements consistently falling below desirable levels.<\/p>\n Tests measuring nitrogen and phosphorus compounds found the river\u2019s physicochemical water quality ranged from moderate to poor throughout the 2012 to 2025 period.<\/p>\n Scientists say further investigation is now needed to determine exactly where the pollution is coming from and what substances are entering the waterway.<\/p>\n Dimitriou said specialised stable nitrogen isotope analysis would be required to identify the precise sources of pollution.<\/p>\n Such testing would involve a more systematic study rather than analysis of only a small number of samples.<\/p>\n The latest findings highlight the continuing environmental pressure on the Kifissos, a major waterway running through the Athens metropolitan area, and raise further questions about pollution controls along the river and surrounding industrial zones.<\/p>\nPollution has been a long-standing problem<\/h3>\n