Blood-red canal in Argentina: Pollution or natural cause?

Near Buenos Aires, the Sarandí canal in the municipality of Avellaneda has turned bright red, causing concern among local residents. The unusual phenomenon has not yet been fully explained, but many suspect that industrial pollution is behind it. Factories in the area, including textile and fur processing plants, are suspected of discharging chemical wastewater into the water.

Concerns about pollution are not new: the canal has repeatedly changed color in the past, from blue to green to pink and purple. The water was often covered in an oily layer of grease, indicating that chemical substances were entering the canal. On social media, people are outraged by the ongoing pollution and are finally calling for measures to protect the environment.

The Sarandí Canal glows blood red and flows into the Río de la Plata - one of the most important rivers in South America. The industrial plants in the immediate vicinity indicate possible environmental pollution.

The Ministry of the Environment has already taken samples of the water to determine the cause, but it is still unclear exactly which substances are responsible for the red coloration. Initial analyses point to organic substances, but a precise explanation is still pending. What is certain, however, is the recurring problem of environmental pollution caused by industrial activities, which has plagued local residents for years.

This issue raises fundamental questions that are important not only at a local but also at a global level. How well are we protecting our waters from the harmful discharge of chemicals? What is the environmental responsibility of industries, and who is responsible for education and control? And how can we ensure a more sustainable use of natural resources worldwide to prevent such environmental damage?

Source: https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/amerika/blutroter-fluss-argentinien-100.html