大象传媒

The growing resistance to antibiotics - caused by the over-subscription of certain drugs - is considered a global health emergency by the United Nations.

Now scientists believe the situation is being made worse by high levels of antibiotics that have been recorded in rivers around the world. In the worst cases - found in countries including Bangladesh, Ghana and Kenya - levels were hundreds of times higher than the levels deemed safe.

Alistair Boxall from the University of York lead the research and explains how antibiotics are finding their way into watercourses.

(Photo: A section of the Nairobi River, Nairobi, Kenya. Credit: Getty Images)