A local water source called the “Fountain of Youth” in Florida hides a potentially deadly secret: radium levels twice what is safe to drink.
Located in the heart of Punta Gorda, a quiet coastal town two hours south of Tampa, lies a modest drinking fountain that has become a local legend.
Residents were quick to crown it the “Fountain of Youth,” the mythical fountain sought by conquistador Ponce de León that was rumored to rejuvenate its drinkers.
Today, the spring is packed with visitors hoping to preserve their youth, but beware: the water in this “magic” well is radioactive.
Alarming tests conducted in the 1980s revealed that it contains a whopping 9 picocuries of radium, twice the federal safety limit, according to a report by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH). Click on Orlando.
The “Fountain of Youth” is a hidden gem that has kept Floridians feeling young and vibrant for years, but it may be hiding a potentially deadly secret.
But be careful before you take a sip: this water is radioactive.
But that hasn’t stopped thrill-seeking tourists and die-hard locals from lining up to try out this supposedly age-defying fountain.
Health officials have reportedly tried to shut down the fountain in the past, but have faced fierce backlash from the community.
Today, a clear warning sign stands as the only barrier between visitors and potential danger: “Use water at your own risk.”
‘The water from this well exceeds the maximum levels of radioactivity contamination determined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) under the Safe Drinking Water Act.’
Located in the heart of Punta Gorda, a quiet coastal town two hours south of Tampa, lies a modest drinking fountain that has become a local legend.
Locals have dubbed it the “Fountain of Youth” and throughout history there are those who claim that the fountain has retained its youth. Today, queues form around it with people desperate to get a drop of this magical water.
Alarming tests conducted in the 1980s revealed that the well water contained a whopping 9 picocuries of radium – twice the federal safety limit.
Today, queues of people desperate to get a drop of the magic water form around it.
But US Geological Survey researcher Zoltan Szabo said: National Public Radio: ”Well, that signal may be scary, but it seems a little radioactivity might not be all bad.”
“If that was your drinking water, and that was the only source of water you had, and you drank it for 70 years, even then, you would only have a one in 20,000 risk,” he said in 2013.
But surprisingly, water might even have some health benefits.
NPR reports that it may contain magnesium sulfate, known to reduce cardiovascular risks and improve respiratory health.
However, trying it comes with another drawback: the putrid smell.
The idea of a “Fountain of Youth”, suggested by Ponce de León, has been the subject of countless tales throughout history, dating back to the 5th century BC.
The mythical spring supposedly reverses the aging of those who drink or bathe in its waters.
News 6 described the stench as “sulfur and mold,” hardly the fragrance of eternal youth.
But despite the risks, this radioactive relic remains open to the public.
The idea of a “Fountain of Youth” has been the subject of countless tales throughout history, dating back to the 5th century BC.
The mythical spring is said to reverse the aging of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters.
It has appeared in the writings of Herodotus of the 5th century BC, in the Alexander Romance of the 3rd century AD, and in the histories of Prester John of the early Crusades, 11th and 12th centuries AD.
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