As Rio de Janeiro has prepared for the 2016 Summer Olympics, slated for Aug. 5-21, it has had to contend with a variety of environmental concerns, the most persistent involving health impacts from water pollution. Scientists point to elevated fecal coliform concentrations in Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, a man-made lake where Olympic rowing, kayaking and canoeing will occur. They also cite the potential for noxious gas emissions from waste in small, shallow lagoons in an area of town where athletes will be housed and most events will be held. Above all, they spotlight Guanabara Bay, the venue for Olympic sailing. There, critics say, sailors could face floating debris and potentially hazardous exposure to raw sewage. “Athletes in the sailing events face health risks, from... [Log in to read more]