Professor of Analytical Chemistry Nikos Thomaidis discussed the sewage that overflowed onto the coastal Poseidonos Avenue after heavy rainfall and whether it poses a public health risk.

As he explained on ERT, “Urban sewage includes, apart from the chemicals we occasionally discuss, obviously pathogens as well. Not just COVID, flu, and such things that aren’t particularly dangerous at this level, but a host of active pathogens that need to be removed somehow, and the quality of the water must be checked. This includes marine water, over a certain period, to ensure that the quality has returned to normal levels without contamination.”

“Especially those who were ‘drenched’ and came into contact with it must wash thoroughly, especially their feet, to avoid any potential infections,” he continued. When asked whether this water could cause a simple infection or something more serious, Mr. Thomaidis replied: “Even much more serious ones, depending on what you’ve come into contact with. Obviously, I don’t think anyone had contact through their mouth or an open wound, but when your feet are wet—I’ve seen people walking through the streets, etc.—there needs to be disinfection.”

The professor further stated, “The images reveal that people have come into contact with this situation, with this contaminated sewage. Naturally, they should wash thoroughly afterward and avoid any further contact with the sewage. That much is clear. When we conduct sample collections, we wear masks and gloves to protect ourselves. So, you can understand that we take precautions when handling such infectious samples. All the more so, if you come into direct contact and get wet, you need to wash thoroughly and ensure proper disinfection.”