Sulfur odor complaints grow in Baghdad amid Iraq’s pollution concerns – Shafaq News

Shafaq News- Baghdad

A strong sulfur-like odor spread across parts of Baghdad
from Monday evening into Tuesday morning, prompting complaints from residents
in the capital’s southeastern districts and renewed calls for authorities to
investigate the source and address the recurring problem.

Residents told Shafaq News on Wednesday that the smell was
particularly noticeable in Al-Rusafa districts, including the Bismayah
residential complex and surrounding areas. They urged the Iraqi government, the
Ministry of Environment, and relevant authorities to intervene, describing the
situation as a recurring episode of “mass suffocation” that has yet
to be resolved.

The incident comes amid broader environmental concerns in
Iraq. The environmental watchdog Green Iraq Observatory reported that around
five million cubic meters of untreated wastewater are discharged daily into
Iraq’s rivers and other water sources used for drinking, household needs,
irrigation, and fish farming.

Death in the current: Pollution decimates Iraq’s river ecosystems

The observatory warned that pollutants entering Iraq’s
rivers contain heavy metals and highly toxic substances, linking them to rising
health risks and the spread of disease. It urged authorities to treat or
recycle wastewater for irrigation purposes instead of discharging it directly
into water sources.

Iraq ranked as the world’s second most polluted country by
the end of 2025, amid worsening water pollution, waste management problems, and
poor air quality. Baghdad’s average AQI reached 113 two years earlier, while
Karbala, Al-Anbar, and Diyala appeared on international rankings of highly
polluted cities.

Read more: The cost of filth: Iraq among the world’s most polluted nations