RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – JULY 24: A general view of the Olympic and Paralympic Village for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Barra da Tijuca. The Village will host up to 17,200 people amongst athletes and team officials during the Games and up to 6,000 during the Paralympic Games on July 24, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

For months, there has been much discussion about the beaches in Rio and its highly contaminated water. A new study commissioned by the Associated Press confirmed everyone’s concern.

The report says that both fans and spectators who are at the Ipanema and Copacabana beaches are in danger of serious health risks due to the water’s high level of pollution.

The information from this study has been released in different parts. Some of the initial results were released in July 2015.

The first results of the study published over a year ago showed viral levels at up to 1.7 million times what would be considered worrisome in the United States or Europe. At those concentrations, swimmers and athletes who ingest just three teaspoons of water are almost certain to be infected with viruses that can cause stomach and respiratory illnesses and more rarely heart and brain inflammation — although whether they actually fall ill depends on a series of factors including the strength of the individual’s immune system.

Due to the concerns with the water, athletes have taken a number of precautions to prevent themselves from picking up any sort of illness or infection. Athletes have bleached their oars, taken antibiotics and even picked out special suits that will prevent them from picking up anything from the infected waters.

But one issue that has come up in the AP’s most recent findings is the fact that a certain virus was found at 90 percent of the areas tested. Unfortunately for those in Rio, they cannot take any antibiotics to prevent themselves from picking up the virus.

These negative results come just days before the opening ceremonies, which means the world’s full attention will be on Rio beginning on Friday. Rio and its many problems have already garnered quite a bit of attention. This bad news is just part of a string of issues fans and athletes will deal with while in Rio.

As for the contaminated waters, the only advice experts can give is for people not to stick their heads underwater. Good luck with that.

[AP]

About Ryan Williamson

Ryan is a recent graduate of the University of Missouri and has recently returned to his Minnesota roots. He previously has worked for the Columbia Missourian, KFAN radio in Minneapolis and BringMeTheNews.com. Feel free to email me at rwilliamson29 AT Gmail dot com.