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Green Dye Photo Shows Substance Streaming Into Waterway
Posted: 04/15/2013 12:39 pm EDT | Updated: 04/15/2013 12:40 pm EDT
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A shocking photo posted to Reddit shows what appears to be fluorescent green something streaming out of a pipe into a waterway.
We're not sure exactly what it is, but thanks to an explanation from redditor firstresponder1492 it appears as though it is Fluorescein or some kind of dye tracer:
Redditor FiMack, who claims to work as an environmental health officer, says they've used the compound for a similar purpose.
Fluorescein was originally the dye used to color the Chicago River during St. Patrick's Day before it was phased out after complaints by environmentalists. It's also used by optometrists to check the eye for scratches.
A video posted to YouTube shows a similar effect on a river near Victoria, British Columbia.
We're not sure exactly what it is, but thanks to an explanation from redditor firstresponder1492 it appears as though it is Fluorescein or some kind of dye tracer:
The chemical used is most likely Fluorescein which is a synthetic organic compound and has been in use for industrial applications for many years. It is a completely inert substance and dissipates in the environment (think large amounts of food coloring). In fact, one of the common names for it is D&C Yellow #7. In this case this is coming from a storm and rainwater treatment system. This is part of the bi-annual inspections required by the EPA. One if the things they look for is where runoff actually goes to make sure there are not pollutants in those locations. That way if anything had been spilled on-site they know where the runoff would go. They then test water and soil samples wherever they see the green to ensure full compliance with the vast array of rules, laws and regulations.Dye tracing like this is often used to track water flow for anything from glacial ice melt to the outflow of runoff from chemical plants. Something similar flowed from a Dallas hospital last year causing an uproar, but it was just routine testing to check for plumbing leaks.
Redditor FiMack, who claims to work as an environmental health officer, says they've used the compound for a similar purpose.
Fluorescein was originally the dye used to color the Chicago River during St. Patrick's Day before it was phased out after complaints by environmentalists. It's also used by optometrists to check the eye for scratches.
A video posted to YouTube shows a similar effect on a river near Victoria, British Columbia.
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Green Dye Photo Shows Substance Streaming Into Waterway
It might be easier to click on "Green Dye Photo Shows----" above. There are many more photos and videos available there that I could not easily display or make work here at this site.
Whenever you see something fluorescent colored going into a fresh or sea waterway, you have to think about what exactly is something this fluorescent colored doing to the whole ecosystem there. If fish and wildlife aren't already dead in that area, will they soon be? or not?