The Sarandi Canal turns blood red on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. (Photo credit: Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images)
A canal in Argentina turned blood red and began emitting a foul odor last week, according to local media reports. Authorities are still investigating the incident, but initial reports suggest a toxic substance used in dye production may have leaked into the body of water.
The Sarandi Canal, also known as the Sarandi Creek, runs through an industrial area in the municipality of Avellaneda, located on the outskirts of the capital, Buenos Aires. Local residents expressed fears of a leak of harmful chemicals on Thursday (Feb. 6), with one reporting waking up to a strong smell and noticing that the water had turned red, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
“It looks like a stream of blood; we've never seen anything like it,” city resident Maria Dukomls told the Associated Press.
The area along the canal is home to tanneries and other businesses that process animal skins. Some parts of Sarandi also border a nature reserve, according to German broadcaster GW News.
Avellaneda officials suspect the water contains a toxic substance used in dyes and pharmaceuticals known as aniline, according to the AP. Aniline is normally colorless but can darken and change color through oxidation when it comes into contact with oxygen. The substance is extremely dangerous to aquatic ecosystems.
This is not the first time that Sarandi has turned an unusual color; it has previously turned both green and purple, according to the AP. The regional environment department said it received a signal about the red coloration on Thursday (February 6), as reported by The Guardian.
The department said it sent a mobile analytical lab to Sarandí and collected 0.4 gallons (2 liters) of water for chemical analysis and liquid chromatography, which separates components in a mixture — in this case, red water. Based on the analysis, the department suspected that dye was the cause of the red tint in the water.
“It is believed to be some kind of organic dye,” the department said.
Authorities continue to investigate the causes of the incident.
Patrick PesterNavigate Social LinksPopular News Author
Patrick Pester is a popular news writer for Live Science. His work has also appeared in other science publications, such as BBC Science Focus and Scientific American. Patrick switched to journalism after working in zoos and wildlife conservation. He was awarded a Master's Excellence Scholarship to Cardiff University, where he earned an MA in International Journalism. He also holds an MA in Biodiversity, Evolution, and Conservation in Action from Middlesex University in London. In his spare time, Patrick studies the sale of human remains.
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