On February 4th, a very peculiar event occurred in Buenos Aires: a canal spontaneously turned a vibrant, peculiar shade of red. Local authorities do not know for certain the reason for the sudden color change, but many suspect chemical waste or dye leakage from a nearby factory.
The Sarandí is the name of the polluted river which many have recently compared to a “bloody stream”. While this incident may seem abnormal to some of us, residents in the area have described the different colors the river had turned in the past, including “bluish, a little green, pink, a little lilac, with grease on top” as recounted by Maria Ducomls. Although some locals have reported an acidic smell in the past, most say that, while the red color has been shockingly violent, a few residents have also described a foul odor that has accompanied the vibrant sight.
A couple of hours since the color change was first reported, local authorities have reported that the vibrancy has decreased. The Environment Ministry has said in a recent statement that scientists are looking into what has caused the event by taking samples from the red river. They have said in a recent statement that “our mobile analysis laboratory was sent to the area and two liters of water were taken as samples for basic chemical analysis and liquid chromatography in order to determine what organic substance was responsible for the discoloration. It is thought to be some kind of organic coloring.” They assume that the color change may be due to aniline, a chemical found in dyes and some medicines.
While research is still being done on understanding the future effects on the animal and plant life in, or near, the river, locals have been worried about pollution in the river for far longer. Several complaints and cases about local businesses using the river as a disposal for waste have long gone unheard, some dating back to the 1990s. This vibrant, open display of pollution is seen as a call to action and aid for those hoping for more awareness in their cities.
Environmental activists around the world are calling for change and better regulations after learning about the river. Its vivid color and contrast to what it should have been remains an important symbol of the way humans interact with the natural landmarks around us and how careless pollution such as this can impact people further away.