Local authorities in Venice, Italy, announced Monday that the phosphorescent green color that appeared in a part of the Grand Canal on Sunday was due to the presence of fluorescein, a non-toxic substance commonly used in sewage network tests. The Veneto Regional Agency for the Prevention and Protection of the Environment (Arpav), the responsible entity, revealed in a statement that analyses of the water samples confirmed the presence of fluorescein and that no toxic elements were detected in the samples. However, the origin of this substance in the Grand Canal was not specified.
Venice residents alerted the authorities about the color change in the canal waters, and the local newspaper La Nuova Venezia reported that the police were investigating whether the phenomenon was a protest by environmental activists.
This is not the first case of the waters of the Grand Canal taking on a green hue. In 1968, during the 34th Venice Biennale, Argentine artist Nicolas Garcia Uriburu dyed the waters of this waterway to raise awareness about ecology.
Although the color change in the Grand Canal was caused by fluorescein, a non-toxic substance, the incident has generated concern in the community and highlighted the importance of maintaining vigilance about water quality and possible effects on the environment. Authorities will continue to investigate to determine how and why fluorescein was introduced into the canal and will take additional preventative measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.