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Venetian Authorities Investigate After Grand Canal Turns Fluorescent Green

  • The waters of Venice's Grand Canal turned bright green over the weekend due to the presence of fluorescein, a non-toxic chemical used to detect leaks in water infrastructure.
  • The source of the fluorescein and motive behind its release into the canal remain unknown, though speculation points to environmental activism.
  • Further tests are underway to determine the nature and amount of the chemical in the water, which is not considered dangerous but could take days to dissolve completely depending on the concentration.
  • Officials worry that copycats may try to dye the canal after an artist used fluorescein for a similar purpose in 1968 and recent protests in Rome targeted public landmarks.
  • Police are investigating the incident in an effort to determine how and why the fluorescein ended up in the water.
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