Mysterious green sludge is seen spewing out of New York City's manholes in scene straight out of Ghostbusters
- Green sludge was seen flowing through the streets of Manhattan this week
- The reports have sparked different theories - it could be toxic or just a coolant
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.
- It looked like a scene from the Ghostbusters movie as a mysterious green sludge oozed from New York City's ground
- Dan Pantelo of New York captured images of the green sludge flowing on the street
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.
- Users on social media joked that it could be Slimer from the Ghostbusters film (pictured), and others said the green slime was reminiscent of The Mutant Ninja Turtles
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 similar incident was seen in Michigan in 2019, but the green liquid was a toxic chemical linked to cancer, which spilled out from a closed industrial site
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.'
The chemical came from a nearby electroplating business, which closed after owner Gary Sayers was jailed for a year after operating an unlicensed hazardous waste storage facility, The Detroit Free Press reports.
Hazardous materials were removed from the plant, but soil or groundwater contamination was reportedly not remedied.
But authorities insisted there was no immediate risk to the public.
