Shafaq News- Baghdad
A strong sulfur-like odor spread across parts of Baghdadfrom Monday evening into Tuesday morning, prompting complaints from residentsin the capital's southeastern districts and renewed calls for authorities toinvestigate the source and address the recurring problem.
Residents told Shafaq News on Wednesday that the smell wasparticularly noticeable in Al-Rusafa districts, including the Bismayahresidential complex and surrounding areas. They urged the Iraqi government, theMinistry of Environment, and relevant authorities to intervene, describing thesituation as a recurring episode of "mass suffocation" that has yetto be resolved.
The incident comes amid broader environmental concerns inIraq. The environmental watchdog Green Iraq Observatory reported that aroundfive million cubic meters of untreated wastewater are discharged daily intoIraq'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'srivers contain heavy metals and highly toxic substances, linking them to risinghealth risks and the spread of disease. It urged authorities to treat orrecycle wastewater for irrigation purposes instead of discharging it directlyinto water sources.
Iraq ranked as the world's second most polluted country bythe end of 2025, amid worsening water pollution, waste management problems, andpoor air quality. Baghdad's average AQI reached 113 two years earlier, whileKarbala, Al-Anbar, and Diyala appeared on international rankings of highlypolluted cities.
: The cost of filth: Iraq among the world’s most polluted nations