The Iraqi Minister of the Environment, Sarwa Abdel Wahed, sparked controversy during a televised interview, after she spoke about the pollution of the Tigris waters. She said on Thursday (October 8, 2026): “After I assumed my position in the ministry, I began to hesitate to buy and eat fish, because of the untreated medical waste that was thrown into the Tigris River, which carries AIDS.”
These statements raised concerns among consumers, especially since fish is a main and important meal that is not absent from the Iraqis’ table. But are there really sources indicating that untreated medical waste is being thrown into the Tigris River? If its existence is proven, to what extent does it affect human health on the one hand, and how can it affect the buying and selling movement of fishermen in Iraq on the other hand?
One ministry denies and another clarifies
After the statement that swept the social networking sites and sparked a wave of fear and resentment, the Iraqi Ministry of Environment explained, through a statement through the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA), that the Minister’s warning regarding the disposal of medical waste came within the framework of alerting to the serious environmental and health repercussions of these practices. She added that some media coverage addressed the minister's statement inaccurately, especially with regard to the possibility of transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS, through eating fish.
In turn, the Iraqi Ministry of Health denied, in an official statement, that medical waste was being thrown into river water without treatment. The ministry's official spokesman, Saif Badr, said in a statement published by the Nina agency that heavy water treatment units affiliated with health institutions work to treat liquid and solid waste according to approved scientific mechanisms. He added that sewage passes through the main sewage network towards sewage treatment plants in Baghdad and the governorates. However, the Ministry confirms that there is another water treatment plant in Baghdad that is not affiliated with it, but is subject to the supervision of the Baghdad Municipality.
500 sources of pollution along the Tigris
The Tigris River is one of the most important rivers in the continent of Asia and the Middle East, and it constitutes the main artery on which the oldest and most ancient human civilizations were built, such as the Sumerian, Assyrian, and Babylonian civilizations.
But the Tigris River has a long, dark history with pollution, spanning decades. In 1979, research published in the journal Water Research documented the contamination of parts of the river from the discharge of raw sewage. Even after the fall of the previous regime, multiple sources revealed pollution, including domestic wastewater, as well as industrial and institutional waste that affects water quality.
In a study on heavy metals found in Tigris fish, published in the scientific journal "Fishes", researchers analyzed 20 fish collected from different areas in Baghdad, and detected increases in the concentrations of some heavy metals, such as cadmium and chromium. However, the sample size does not represent the entire river, and there is no evidence of medical contamination in the fish currently, according to what was stated in the study.
Green Iraq Observatory, an observatory specializing in environmental issues and climate change in Iraq. Hossam Al-Subhi, a member of the observatory, spoke about the methodology used in monitoring pollution in the Tigris waters. He told DW, "Due to the limited environmental data available in Iraq, the observatory relies on field monitoring and data collected by researchers to identify sites suspected of being exposed to pollution."
Hossam adds that the observatory monitored a number of sites in Baghdad, while studying the surrounding areas, including homes near rivers, waterways, restaurants, and even shops. Monitoring is carried out with the help of satellite images, in cooperation with agencies and institutions specialized in providing images and data.
In a study published by the Observatory in August 2026, it revealed 500 sources of pollution on the Tigris River, whose waste is discharged directly or indirectly into the river. These wastes include sewage and hospital medical waste without treatment.
But this does not mean that HIV/AIDS is transmitted through food or water, as the World Health Organization explains. This also does not negate the dangers of medical waste to the environment and river water.
Accounting and control
Hossam Al-Subhi points out that the Green Iraq Observatory has a close relationship with the Ministry of Environment, and that there are ongoing talks regarding the environmental status of the Tigris River. He adds that they proposed several solutions to the ministry, which is working to implement them.
He continues: "The problem is deeply rooted, and addressing it requires continuous and long-term cooperation between the relevant ministries and society." He confirms that the issue cannot be resolved overnight, especially since some factories and sources of pollution do not respond to the procedures of the Ministry of Environment and do not adhere to its directives. Therefore, Al-Subhi calls for the implementation of field tours by the Ministry of Environment, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, to ensure the implementation of the law.
On the other hand, expert Dr. Mahmoud Basil Al-Amiri, a specialist in water and air pollution from the University of Baghdad, said in an interview with DW Arabia, “Verifying the risks of pollution of the Tigris River requires conducting laboratory tests to determine the nature of the pollutants and their concentrations. He points out that the sources of pollution are not limited to untreated medical waste, but also include sewage and other pollutants.”
To verify the nature of the pollution, Dr. Al-Amiri advises taking advantage of Iraqi academic studies and strengthening field monitoring. Dr. Al-Amiri believes that “using advanced sewage pipes is the most appropriate solution to address this problem.”
Effects of pollution on health
The Tigris River contains organic pollutants that the Green Iraq Observatory described as “very dangerous.” The Observatory mentioned in a statement a number of pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, volatile organic compounds, and phthalates, which may cause health damage, including endocrine disorders, cancer, and liver and kidney damage.
Escape from the underlying problem
The Minister of the Environment's statements sparked widespread controversy on social media, especially after she mentioned the AIDS virus, as users responded that HIV is not transmitted by eating fish. Activists stated that reducing the Tigris water pollution crisis to fear of a virus, and not focusing on the basic problem, such as untreated sewage and industrial waste, may be aimed at distraction.
According to Hanaa from Baghdad, "Iraqis are not affected by these statements. For many years, waste has been thrown into the river, and mineral deposits and dirt have been present since the time of Saddam." Nour describes the minister’s statements as “unrealistic,” and says with a kind of sarcasm about the poor conditions, “The Iraqi people are accustomed to diseases, and have become an ‘expert’ in diseases and pollution.” She adds: "We are coexisting and adapting to the situation." In a similar opinion, Nawar says: “The Iraqi people do not think or care,” describing that the recurrence of crises in Iraq has made the Iraqis not care about anything. While Wafa places blame and responsibility on the government, which she believes is responsible for imposing strict laws and penalties on every source that pollutes the Tigris waters.
The controversy extended to the fish production sector as well. It raised concerns among fishermen and workers in the fishing sector, which already suffers from problems due to low water levels and pollution. But on the other hand, Hanaa says that the statements and pollution do not affect her and her family’s desire to eat Iraqi fish, and she adds: “Until now, the waiting lines in front of fish shops and restaurants are still long.”
