A mysterious green sludge spewing from manholes in New York City sparked confusion and panic this week. Footage of the fluorescent green liquid leaking down the street and creating neon-colored puddles was captured by the World Trade Center Tuesday. Users on social media joked that it could be Slimer from The Ghostbusters film, and others said the green slime was reminiscing of The Mutant Ninja Turtles.
While it may look otherworldly, there is an actual explanation. A staff member at O’Hara’s Restaurant and Pub, where the green liquid was seen Tuesday, told DailyMail.com that city workers were testing the hotel’s sprinkler system across the street using a green foam, which left behind the eerie residue. A mixture of water and foam concentrate is pumped into the system to clean out any residue that could hinder the water flow.
At-home foam drain cleaners are said to flush out biofilm or gunk built up inside pipes. DailyMail.com contacted New York City Transportation and Sanitation for more information, which refused to comment. The video was posted to X Thursday by Dan Pantelo , who shared: ‘So there’s literal green sludge bubbling up from the ground next to World Trade Center right now.’ Theories of what the green ooze is in Manhattan were popping up, with some claiming it is a toxic substance and others sure the color is from a coolant.
A notification attached to an X post of the scene states: ‘This is water full of green dye. Plumbers frequently use harmless, fluorescent green dye to detect leaks in plumbing and sewage systems.’ One X user joked in a post: ‘Are there any turtles in sight?’ This is not the first time green sludge has been seen in the city. Most recently, reports came from a Brooklyn subway station in March when people saw ‘slime’ pooling up near a ticket machine, which was also likely from testing a water system. However, this was not the case in 2019 when a bright green liquid spilled onto a Michigan highway.
After blocking off the shoulder and studying the slime, officials suspect the substance is groundwater mixed with a chemical called hexavalent chromium. Chromium prevents metals from rusting, which has been linked to cancers in the lungs, stomach and gut if inhaled or digested. It is found in tobacco smoke. Michigan State Police confirmed Saturday the bright-colored liquid was the cancerous chemical, tweeting: ‘The chemical ran from the basement of the building, down into the ground and found its way through a drain which empties onto eastbound I-696.’
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