Forest fires, agricultural burning, and industrial activities all contribute to harmful levels of PM2. 5 pollution in the Amazon. These flames are getting more common and deadly as climate change and deforestation intensify, posing an increasing hazard to species hundreds of miles away.

Yes, significant levels of pollution have been found in the Amazon River, with a major 2025/2026 review identifying widespread plastic and microplastic contamination across all nine Amazonian countries. Research published in late 2025 revealed that plastic fragments have been found in the digestive systems of over 50 animal species, including fish, manatees, turtles, and birds, even in remote areas far from human cities. Beyond plastic, the river also suffers from mercury poisoning caused by illegal gold mining (garimpo), which leaches toxic chemicals into the water and enters the local food chain. Agricultural runoff containing pesticides and untreated municipal sewage from growing urban centers like Manaus further contribute to the "triple planetary crisis" of pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss in the basin. For 2026 researchers, the Amazon is no longer considered a "pristine" sanctuary, as the evidence of human-produced waste is now omnipresent throughout its vast network of waterways.