Samples taken last March showed 26 million adenoviruses per liter of water, but this June the level hit more than 37 million adenoviruses per liter, meaning athletes who took in the equivalent of just three teaspoons of that water would become infected.
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The authorities of the Rio 2016 Olympics state their confidence that the water will meet standards in time, claiming a new belt of pipes that have been installed have already improved the quality of the bay. Here’s more details on the Rio Olympics water quality and other Rio Olympics news.
But the cleanup efforts have fallen short of what was promised, and it isn’t clear how much raw sewage and unsafe microorganisms persist in the water.
The first results of the test (published over a year ago) found the water to have levels of viruses 1.7 million times greater than what would cause concern in Europe or the United States. With those levels of pollution, if athletes swallow just three teaspoons of water, they’re nearly certainly going to be infected with the viruses, according to the AP. After 16 months, nearly 90% of the test sites used found similar results. The precautions include antibiotics (which will only halt the bacteria, not the viruses) and, in the case of those taking part in water sports, wearing a plastic suit and gloves to minimize contact with the polluted waters. Currently, 1,400 athletes are set to compete in aquatic competitions and will be at risk. The risk of infection even stretches to the golden sands of Ipanema and Copacabana’s beaches, the scientists warned.
With its stunning peaks, beaches and city skyline, Rio de Janiero should provide the ideal setting for Olympic sailing.
Of course, Olympic athletes tend to be fit and healthy with strong immune systems, but the risks associated with swimming, boating, or ingesting the contaminated water are so high that U.S. Olympic Teams are taking extra precautions this year.
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They told CNN they had found the highest level of superbugs of the sort found in hospitals on the shores of the bay, with pollution problems also evident on tourist beaches. “The data that has been released indicate that levels of sewage that have been released into the environment in Rio is so high that the likelihood of infection is imminent”, Kristina Mena, an associate professor of environmental and occupational sciences at the University of Texas Houston School of Public Health, told VICE. That said, Paes has also acknowledged a failure to clean the city’s water. “Some days the water is totally OK, and some days there are bad days”. None of the above have commented yet on the Associated Press’ study.
