PARIS (AP) — At the Paris Olympics , whether the water quality in the Seine River is safe enough to host some swimming events has been a major question. Bacteria levels in the river fluctuate constantly, and daily water samples are tested so organizers can assess the risk and determine whether swims in the long-polluted Paris waterway should go forward. Triathletes raced in the river Wednesday , and organizers said Sunday night that Monday's triathlon mixed relay event would be held as planned with the swimming portion in the Seine.
Testing will continue ahead of the marathon swimming races scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Here are some things to know about water quality testing in the Seine: High levels of E. coli and enterococci indicate sewage or fecal pollution in the water.
Most strains are harmless and some live in the intestines of healthy people and animals. But others can be dangerous. Even a mouthful of contaminated water can lead to diarrhea, and illnesses such as infections in the urinary tract or intestines can result.
How susceptible a person is to falling ill from E. coli exposure depends on several factors, chief among them a person’s age and general health. “Generally speaking, the healthier you are, the more likely you’re going to be to withstand any sort of pathogen,” said Brian Rahm, a biological and environmental engineering expert at Cornell University.
Sometimes it's not even the E. coli itself that's cause for worry, Rahm said. “When we s.