Dead duck in Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool sparks outrage after Trump spends $14 million on renovations and chemical cleanup
Reports of a dead duckling found floating in the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool on Sunday drew attention on social media. The images emerged days after National Park Service staff were caught adding hydrogen peroxide to the water to treat an algae bloom.
what we know
Rob Crilly is a political reporter who has covered White House for washington The Examiner shared two photos of the dead duck on X, showing it floating on the wall of a pool with its eyes still open.
Creeley said he had spoken to an expert who told him the pool “may have signs of cyanobacteria.”
TMZ and other media reported the sighting. Cyanobacterial populations are usually harmless, but during rapid reproduction they can produce toxins that can harm animals. The duckling’s official cause of death has not been confirmed, and HT.com has not been able to independently verify all details.
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Duck safety concerns grow as algae spreads in pools
according to daily beastAs National Park Service workers poured gallons of hydrogen peroxide into newly renovated pools, observers began to worry about the ducks and ducklings using the water.
a well-known journalist CommentX “It’s a bad day for ducks” as they watched efforts to control algae blooms with chemicals, some social media users claimed to have seen dead ducks in the pool.
Algae blooms are just one of several problems with Trump’s $14 million pool renovation. His “American Flag Blue” paint and pool sealant also peeled off the bottom and floated to the surface, The Daily Beast reported.
How strong are chemicals?
Common Dreams reports that while a 3% concentration of hydrogen peroxide is generally considered safe, the container poured into the pool was labeled a “12%” solution. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a 12% solution is concentrated enough to “cause problems if inhaled and cause burns on contact with skin.” The CDC also notes that hydrogen peroxide “is not absorbed through the skin but can cause systemic toxicity when inhaled or ingested,” and warns that it is a “potent” oxidant that can cause spontaneous combustion when in contact with organic materials.
It’s unclear exactly how much of the chemical was dumped into the pond, which is used by many ducks.
social media reaction
The incident triggered social repercussions social media. One X user wrote: “Why are these Antifa terrorists and the billionaires who fund them still at large? Everyone knows this is the moment the paint starts to peel off in the reflecting pool.”
Another asked: “You’d think environmentalists would be sitting on a highway in Washington protesting this water pollution, but they’re eerily silent???”
One user questioned the science behind the cleanup, writing: “Y’all, not to be a huge nerd, but for a reflecting pool you’d need at least about 8,000 liters of 12% hydrogen peroxide to get to a concentration of 50 parts per million to kill algae…is this going to happen when you only have 0 scientists in your government?”
Meanwhile, another user wrote: “It’s safe and won’t hurt anything. So why pretend to be angry?”
