Influencers Keep Drinking Melted Glacier Water Despite These Serious Dangers

After witnessing years of TikTok trends gone wrong, we should all know that it's best not to try everything you see online. You definitely shouldn't eat a Tide pod just because you saw someone else do it. As a general rule of thumb, you shouldn't consume anything that isn't well-established as safe for consumption, regardless of what influencers are doing. They don't always know what they're talking about, and many TikTok trends have proven to be extremely dangerous.

One recent trend has inspired influencers, celebrities, and their followers to drink glacier water. There are several viral TikTok videos depicting people drinking water from a glacial pool, and others in which people describe their experiences doing so. Some have millions of views, and even popular rapper Ludacris decided to try it. It's understandable that drinking water from a melted glacier might be more tempting than eating Tide pods. Who doesn't want to get up close and personal with incredible glaciers?

The sparkling, crystal clear water may look like the perfect thing to quench your thirst, but if you're concerned about whether it's safe then you're certainly not alone. Even some experts are at odds with each other when it comes to whether or not it's okay to take a sip. It's always better to be safe than sorry, so unless you're willing to risk dangers like bacteria, viruses, parasites, and heavy metals this is a TikTok trend you should probably skip. 

When Ludacris posted a video on TikTok of himself dipping a glass into a perfectly clear pool of glacial melt and gulping it down, the internet went wild. Commenters were almost unanimously concerned for the iconic rapper's safety. Many thought he was about to fall off a cliff into an icy abyss, but others worried that he might become sick from drinking the water.

"Pretty sure drinking water from a glacier is bad for your health," wrote TikTok user Terp Bison. WakeupAndRelax left a comment that read "He was not properly briefed ... there can be so much bacteria in that water especially if it's stagnant." Some commenters disagreed completely. "Here in Iceland you get glacial water straight through the tap and we got a 7-year-longer lifespan than the USA," wrote TikTok user Mr. Spirus.

Ludacris certainly isn't the only person who has drank water from a glacier. Some fear that it's dangerous, and others argue that it's probably no big deal, but the general consensus seems to be that it isn't 100% without risk. In an article published by Food & Wine, a glaciologist named Dr. Gabriel Wolken said, that "this is a somewhat complicated question that depends on where the glacier is and how much of the water one plans to consume."

In 2024, a team of scientists discovered 1,700 viruses that were previously unknown to science within melting glacier ice. While it was decided those viruses weren't a threat, it raises concerns as to whether or not dormant viruses in glaciers could infect humans one day. Obviously no one wants to end up being patient zero and sparking the next global pandemic for the sake of a TikTok travel trend.

Glaciers are also full of bacteria and other microorganisms that are being released as they melt. "We don't have enough data to understand the value and the threat of these organisms. I routinely get inquiries about whether there is going to be a doomsday pathogen melting out of the glaciers. I think that's a very minor risk, but it's not a zero risk, so we need risk assessment of these microbes," Dr Arwyn Edwards told The Guardian.

Another risk of ingesting glacier water is that you might ingest a parasite. Parasites that live in natural water sources like giardia and cryptosporidium. Giardia causes stomach upset, diarrhea, gas, and bloating. It's rarely fatal, but if left untreated it can cause complications like malnutrition and long-term digestive problems. Cryptosporidium causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and low-grade fever. Symptoms usually last a few weeks. Some studies have also revealed harmful amounts of heavy metals in glacier water. With so many potential risks, it's best to skip drinking from a melted glacier — even if it looks delicious. You should absolutely visit the most spectacular glaciers before they melt and enjoy the stunning glacier views, but leave the water alone.