Because swimming in the Seine is extremely dangerous to health – Professor of the EKP warns even about future problems

Even future health problems may cause it to warn the professor of the EKP in the wake of the saliva that has erupted with the athletes who plunged into its waters, in the context of the Olympic Games in Paris, and are now being treated with severe infections. Panayiotis Halvatsiotis, Associate Professor of Pathology of the EPA, spoke to ertnews on Tuesday (06.08. 24) and explained why swimming in the Seine is dangerous to public health. He mentions bacteria and toxic substances, which can lead to allergies up to later health problems. “Swimming in the Seine had been banned for a hundred years, because it was a toxic environment” and despite the various investments made at times with drainage works and water tanks, it remains extremely dangerous for public health,” he stressed. And go on: “The Seine is a river with continuous flow and even a rainfall can bring sewage that did not exist… We have an outbreak of public health problems, such as any river in a large town that carries bacteria such as the coliform or various viruses, parasites, but also from the drainage areas it brings insecticides, fertilizers, medicinal derivatives, nitrites, phosphates, plastics, perhaps radioactive, as well as the sewers from the drains.” According to Mr.Chalvatsiotis, the health of those swimming in the Seine is not guaranteed by taking into account only the water content in colonies of coliforms and viruses. “There are a number of other toxic substances and by-products from the areas draining the river, which may be dangerous for skin reactions, allergies,” he said, even warning of health problems that may occur in the future due to swimming in toxic waters.