Liv Delgado
This summer 2024, the Seine River was set to become a spectacle of the Paris Olympic Games, showcasing a series of historic swimming events against the iconic Parisian backdrop.
However, despite rigorous efforts from organizers and environmentalists to improve its historically questionable water quality levels in time for the Olympians to dive in, the Seine-centric events have been canceled, postponed, and fallen under serious global scrutiny for their concerning conditions. The culprit? A spike in ‘superbugs’—a dangerous indicator of fecal contamination levels—caused by runoff from the city’s streets.
If we continue with the current methods of livestock farming, the environmental and economic impacts could be dire:
Unfortunately, the situation in Paris is not unique. Broader studies have found that superbugs accumulate in seaside environments with suboptimal sanitation infrastructure due to increased antibiotic use from human activity, leading to the excessive release of sewage containing antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant superbugs into our waterways.
Populations like older adults, young children, and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of contracting infections from these resilient superbugs.
Traditionally, swimmers and surfers alike have been exposed to ear or sinus infections from water-borne bugs, but they were relatively treatable in the past. Nowadays, there’s a higher chance of those infections proving resistant to standard treatments and medications, earning the infamous title of ‘superbug’.
Olympian swimmers are no exception, and following activities in this water, several competitors reported gastrointestinal illness consistent with the effects of a litany of antibiotic-resistant superbugs on the rise around the world. So, how do these risky conditions compare to our local lakes, beaches, or rivers? More specifically, what can we do to keep ourselves safe?
Three American competitors noticeably mitigated their risk of contraction this season by balancing their heads above the surface and using paddle boards to avoid swallowing water harboring superbugs. Other preventative measures, such as properly gearing up with a snorkel and goggles before entering recreational waters or tending to any open injuries (cuts, scrapes, etc.) in advance can create a positive protective effect as well.
One of the most important recommendations to reduce risk is to follow any posted signage or alerts about water quality and safety. Coastal waters, beach sand, and other natural marine environments with high foot traffic can easily become hotspots for pathogenic bacteria. Everyone can do their part to prevent the expansion of antibiotic-resistant superbugs by following these precautions on an individual basis!
Citations
1. Louallen, Doc, and Ines. “Paris Olympics in Limbo about Whether Seine Will Be Safe Enough for Swimming Events.” ABC News, ABC News, 16 July 2024, abcnews.go.com/International/paris-olympics-limbo-seine-safe-swimming-events/story?id=111879754.
2. Turns, Anna. “Why Antimicrobial Resistance Could Be Lurking in a Waterway near You.” Www.bbc.com, 13 July 2024, www.bbc.com/future/article/20240709-why-cleaning-sewage-out-of-uk-waterways-could-stop-amr-superbugs.
3. Ventola C. L. (2015). The antibiotic resistance crisis: part 1: causes and threats. P & T :
a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management, 40(4), 277–283.
4. Ducharme, Jamie. “Your Summer Beach Trip Could Put You at Risk of Getting Sick. Here’s What You Need to Know.” Time, 24 July 2019, time.com/5631608/swimming-illness-risks/
5. Reynolds, Gretchen, and Teddy Amenabar. “Did Swimming in the Seine Make Athletes Sick? Here’s What We Know.” The Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2024, www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/08/05/seine-olympic-athletes-sick-ecoli-paris/
6. Newberry, Paul. “Olympics 2024: Marathon Swimmers Dive into the Seine River amid Concerns about Dirty Water.” AP News, AP News, 7 Aug. 2024, apnews.com/article/2024-olympics-open-water-seine-7bc390b9d22723a896ce1ec46dfd96ca.
7. Fleming, Naomi. “Practice Nursing - AMR: Effective Infection Prevention and Control Measures.” Practice Nursing, 2 Aug. 2019, www.practicenursing.com/content/professional/amr-effective-infection-prevention-and-control-measures/.
8. Magalhães, E. A., de Jesus, H. E., Pereira, P. H. F., Gomes, A. S., & Santos, H. F. D.
(2024). Beach sand plastispheres are hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes and potentially pathogenic bacteria even in beaches with good water quality. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 344, 123237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123237
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