Environmental activist Christopher Swain did the unthinkable on Earth Day by attempting to swim the Gowanus Canal, one of America's dirtiest waterways, in Brooklyn, New York.

Swain attempted the disgusting feat to and bring the heavily polluted waterway to light, CBS New York reported.

Before taking the plunge, Swain told local media and bystanders, "I'm a little nervous because it is scary to get in there with all the pathogens, the bacteria, the viruses, the toxic chemicals and heavy metals."

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The canal is brimming with , including raw sewage, diseases, copper and mercury, among others, the New York Times reported. And in 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency designated the waterway a , or a location where hazardous waste is present and poses a possible threat to local ecosystems or people.

To shield himself from the lurking hazards, Swain wore full-body protective equipment. However, that did not stop several parties from attempting to dissuade Swain from the swim. In fear of his safety, the New York Police Department threatened to arrest the activist, but no arrest was made.

The Environmental Protection Agency advised Swain not to complete the swim, as well, providing a to contaminants.

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Swain decided to try his hand, anyway, but the attempt was cut short due to inclement weather.

The activist exited the canal and gargled two mouthfuls of hydrogen peroxide before telling the media the water tasted like mud, poop, ground-up grass,detergentand gasoline.

Yet despite its deplorable condition, Swain expressed his optimism for the canal's future, "The Hudson's mostly cleaned up now. It's nothing like the river that we had in the '60s and '70s, and I'm saying the same thing could happen right here. What I'm imagining is not so much what this one swim will do, but I'm imagining the dream of the Gowanus Canal that is glittering in the sun that is completely clean."

Swain plans to return and attempt a second swim.

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