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In Anchorage, Alaska, rapper and actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges created a stir online when he kneeled on a glacier, filled a water bottle from a clear, blue meltwater pool, and drank it. The video, which captured Ludacris’s amazed reaction to the water, quickly went viral on TikTok and Instagram, accumulating millions of views. While some viewers worried about the dangers of drinking untreated water, potentially contaminated with the giardia parasite, experts assured the public there was no danger.
Glaciologist Martin Truffer from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks addressed the concerns, calling them overblown and confirming that Ludacris was in no danger. Truffer explained that glacial meltwater is among the purest water one can find.
Ludacris, who was visiting Alaska to perform at the Alaska State Fair, wore ice cleats to traverse the Knik Glacier, roughly 40 miles north of Anchorage. He later boasted about the water’s quality, declaring it the best he’s ever tasted during a concert in Minneapolis.
Giardiasis, an illness caused by the giardia parasite, can lead to symptoms like diarrhea, stomach cramps, and dehydration. The CDC advises against swallowing water in natural settings and recommends treating water from natural sources before consumption. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation also cautions against drinking untreated water and provides guidelines for safe drinking practices outdoors.
Despite general warnings about drinking from natural water sources, Truffer was confident about the safety of the specific glacier stream Ludacris drank from, noting it had no exposure to biological contaminants. He personally attested to the safety of drinking from glacial streams, having done so many times himself without issues.
Alaska, known for its vast number of glaciers covering a significant portion of the state, offers unique experiences for visitors. However, climate change poses a serious threat to these icy landscapes, with recent studies indicating an accelerated rate of melting in the region.