Farmlands surrounding the remaining waters of the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan use large amounts of chemical fertilizers and herbicides, and irrigation effluent flows back into the lake area through drainage ditches. The combination of high-salinity wastewater and pesticide residues has caused the salinization of the water body to worsen continuously, leading to the mass extinction of the remaining native freshwater organisms. Pollutants seep into shallow groundwater, and since nearby villages rely on groundwater as their drinking water source, long-term consumption increases the risk of liver and kidney damage, creating a vicious cycle of desertification and soil and water pollution.
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