Ludacris drinks glacial water on Alaska glacier, sparks health debate
Ludacris drinks glacier water, experts assure safety despite health concerns
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, the rapper-turned-actor, raised eyebrows on social media after kneeling on an Alaska glacier, filling an empty water bottle from a pristine pool, and drinking it. The video of Ludacris sampling the glacial water and exclaiming, “Oh my God!” garnered millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. Concerns emerged among viewers who feared he risked his health by consuming untreated water, potentially contaminated with the giardia parasite.
Glaciologist Martin Truffer from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks dismissed the concerns. “He’s totally fine,” Truffer stated. While understandable that some worry about drinking untreated water, he explained that water from a glacier melt stream is among the cleanest available.
Ludacris, wearing ice cleats, explored Knik Glacier, roughly 40 miles north of Anchorage, as part of his visit to Alaska to perform at the state fair. He expressed delight with the taste of the glacial water, later describing it as the best he had ever tasted in a video recorded before a concert in Minneapolis.
Ludacris posted a video drinking glacier water in Alaska
It probably wasn't a good idea
Here is a video of a Tiktoker drinking glacier water from Alaska and getting extremely sick pic.twitter.com/mTCTFN5BP1
— keep6ixsolid (@keep6ixsolid) August 26, 2024
Giardiasis, the illness caused by giardia, can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, and dehydration. It spreads through contaminated water, food, surfaces, or from person to person. The Centers for Disease Control advise against swallowing water while swimming and recommend boiling or filtering water from natural sources before consumption to avoid illness. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation also advises against drinking untreated surface water, suggesting the use of chlorine or iodine for safe drinking practices.
Truffer, who humorously noted he knew of Ludacris because his neighbour named their cat after the rapper, acknowledged the general risks of drinking from wild streams. However, he assured that the glacial water consumed by Ludacris had no exposure to biological activity, deeming it safe. Truffer himself has drunk from glacial streams numerous times without issue.
Alaska boasts around 100,000 glaciers, covering approximately 288,000 square miles, or 3% of the state. This is 128 times the glacier-covered area of the other 49 states combined. For many visitors, witnessing a glacier is a unique experience. However, climate change impacts are evident, with a recent study revealing that the Juneau icefield’s melting rate is now 4.6 times faster than in the 1980s.
What Other Media Are Saying
- ABC News reports that rapper Ludacris’ drink of untreated Alaska glacier melt was fine, despite social media concerns about giardia contamination, and an expert confirmed it was the cleanest water he’d ever had.(read more)
- CTV News reports that Ludacris’ drink of untreated Alaska glacier melt was “totally fine,” according to a scientist, but experts warn against drinking unfiltered water due to potential contamination.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Is it safe to drink water from a glacier?
Yes, glacial meltwater is usually very clean and safe to drink.
What are the risks of drinking untreated water in the wild?
Untreated water can contain parasites like giardia, causing diarrhea and stomach cramps.
Why did Ludacris drink glacier water?
Ludacris drank glacier water as part of his visit to Knik Glacier in Alaska.
What advice does the CDC give about drinking natural water sources?
The CDC advises boiling or filtering water from lakes, springs, or rivers before drinking.
How many glaciers are in Alaska?
Alaska is home to about 100,000 glaciers.
