An Associated Press investigation found that the waters wherein the next Olympic Games will be held is unsafe for athletes.
AP tests show that Rio de Janeiro's waters have been contaminated with very high levels of viruses and bacteria from human sewage. It also contains disease-causing viruses at a whopping 1.7 million times more than the hazardous levels in Southern California beaches.
"What you have there is basically raw sewage," said Southern California Coastal Water Research Project marine biologist, John Griffith, who interpreted the tests.
"It's all the water from the toilets and the showers and whatever people put down their sinks, all mixed up, and it's going out into the beach waters," he says.
Samples from different testing venues were checked for the presence of adenoviruses, rotavirus, enterovirus and fecal coliforms. According to global experts, the AP testing has found that none of these venues are safe for the games.
How dangerous is this contamination levels, you ask?
After examining the AP data, U.S. waterborne virus risk assessment expert, Kristina Mena, estimates that athletes will have a 99 percent chance of infection if they ingested even just three teaspoons of water. Illnesses, however, depends on some factors like immunity.
Other people have expressed their opinions about the findings.
Ivan Bulaja, the coach of Austria's 49er-class sailing team, says, "This is by far the worst water quality we've ever seen in our sailing careers." His sailors have lost valuable training days to vomiting and diarrhea.
"The Olympic medal is something that you live your life for," Bulaja said, "and it can really happen that just a few days before the competition you get ill and you're not able to perform at all."
However, others just "shrug off" the report. According to Reuters, sailors and rowers aren't worried about Rio de Janeiro's waters.
"Brazilians haven't caught anything," Olympic gold medalist, Marcelo Ferreira, said. "I have never had any health problems sailing in the Guanabara Bay."
"There's no point in going on about the quality of the water, the Olympics are going to be in Rio no matter what and so this subject is dead for me," he adds.
Paige Railey, an American gold medalist in the women's laser radial in last week's Pan American Games, said she had no fears.
"We've spent a lot of time there the past few years and haven't had any issues with the water," said Railey.
"Honestly, Rio has been doing a great job with the water, we haven't had any issues. I think it's fine. I even swim in it, it doesn't bug me at all," she adds.
