An investigation by the Associated Press found dangerous levels of viruses and bacteria from human waste in the water where elite rowers, canoeists and sailors were likely to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian officials have assured athletes and the International Olympic Committee’s medical director that the water will be safe, but neither the government nor the IOC test for viruses, relying only on tests on bacteria. Most of Brazil’s wastewater is untreated and raw waste traverses ditches to streams and rivers on its way to the Olympic water sites.
About a year before the 2016 Olympic torch was lit in Rio de Janeiro, an Associated Press investigation found that the world’s most elite rowers, canoeists and sailors were likely competing in water with dangerous levels of the virus and bacteria from human waste. The amount of disease-causing viruses on Rio’s beaches was up to 1.7 million times higher than the level considered dangerous on a Southern California beach. The AP analysis was the first independent review of viruses and bacteria at Olympic venues. Brazilian officials have assured athletes and the International Olympic Committee’s medical director that the water will be safe, but neither the government nor the IOC test for viruses, relying only on tests on bacteria.
Water Pollution at Rio’s Olympic Sites:
Most of Brazil’s wastewater is untreated. The raw waste traverses ditches to streams and rivers on its way to the Olympic water sites.
Tests at Rodrigo de Freitas lake, where rowing and canoeing events will be held, found 1.7 billion adenoviruses per litre, an amount that can cause diarrhoea, vomiting and a range of other illnesses.
Guanabara Bay, where the sailing competitions will be held, is inundated with nearly 400 tons of garbage every day, NBC News reported.
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