Beer Factory in Okinawa Colors Port Waters Blood-Red in Dye Spill, Locals Alarmed

Locals in Nago City, Okinawa were alarmed on Tuesday when a dye spill from a neighboring beer brewery caused the normally clean port waters to turn a "gruesome" blood-red.

Blood-Red Dye in Okinawa Port Waters

The port water's new temporary color was created by a food coloring dye that poured into a river, according to Orion Breweries, who also added that there were no health dangers.

However, the brewery apologized for causing the people of Nago City, Okinawa, so much grief and distress.

On social media, locals referred to the blood-red waters as "gruesome" while some said they appeared "venomous." Still, propylene glycol is "generally recognized as safe" for use in food and is used to absorb excess water, according to the CDC.

The leak, which is thought to have started in one of the cooling systems used in the brewery, happened on Tuesday and was stopped at 9:30 local time, according to Japanese media.

The gutters allowed it to spill into the river.

Hajime Murano, president of Orion Breweries, told Japanese media that the organization was looking into how the leak had happened and that steps would be taken to stop such an issue from happening again.

Nago is well-known for its pineapple farms in addition to fishing.

A lager by the name of Orion is popular for its delicate flavor. Along with being the distinctive beer of the subtropical Okinawa, which distinguishes itself from the Japanese mainland, the BBC News reported.

Propylene Glycol in the Environment

A synthetic liquid called propylene glycol is used to manufacture polyester compounds, deicing solutions, and antifreeze, and it absorbs water. It is a transparent, flavorless, odorless additive and solvent that has been approved by the FDA.

Most of the discharges into the air, water, and land are caused by waste streams from the production of propylene glycol.

When used as a runway or aircraft de-icing agent, propylene glycol can leak into the environment.

Additionally, the disposal of products containing propylene glycol might introduce the chemical into the environment. It is unlikely to be present in significant quantities in the air.

Regarding what happens to propylene glycol in the air, little is known by the CDC.

Small amounts that might be inhaled are probably going to degrade quickly. If it is released into the atmosphere, it will take up to 50 hours for half of it to decompose.

Propylene glycol can totally dissolve in water and permeate the soil. In surface water and soil, it can degrade relatively quickly-within a few days to a week, according to the CDC - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

When propylene glycol breaks down in surface waters, it is known to impose significant biochemical oxygen demand. Because it depletes the oxygen that aquatic species need to survive, this process could have a negative impact on aquatic life.

Organic contaminant concentrations that pose a health risk can exist below existing detection limits.

The EPA's sediment screening values are typically used in conjunction with fish tissue levels for the detection of these chemicals.

Considering that organic pollutants can bioaccumulate in fish, it's crucial to ensure that people can safely eat catfish and other species, as per Cumberland River Compact.