Air Pollution Affects the Body in Various Ways during Exercise

Review Explores the Interaction Between Exercise and Air Pollution Exposure

Rockville, Md. (April 30, 2024)—A new review published in Physiological Reports examines the interaction between exercise and air pollution exposure to determine how a person’s physiology reacts to environmental pollutants and the potential for acclimation.

The Impact of Air Pollution on Health

Air pollution is known to contribute to chronic health conditions such as dementia, Type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, and increased mortality. However, air pollution is not uniform and can vary in type and state. Different pollutants include dust, pollen, diesel particles from car exhaust, and ozone. Pollution levels can also vary based on time of day, weather conditions, and location.

The Benefits of Exercise

Exercise has been proven to help prevent and manage many of the same ailments caused by air pollution. However, the health benefits of physical activity must be weighed against the potential negative effects of pollution exposure during exercise. Scientists and medical professionals are interested in understanding how environmental pollutants affect the body.

Review Findings

Michael Koehle, MD, PhD, director of the Environmental Physiology Lab at the University of British Columbia in Canada, conducted an invited review to highlight recent advances in the physiology of the air pollution and exercise interaction. The review compiled findings from over 30 previous studies and focused on four main areas:

1. Exercise intensity: High-intensity exercise has been shown to increase the inhalation of pollutant particles. However, one study found minimal differences in exposure to diesel exhaust between high-intensity exercise and clean air conditions. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of different types of air pollution.
2. Pre-exposure to pollution: People can be exposed to air pollution at any time, not just during exercise. One study showed that heart rates increased during exercise in individuals exposed to diesel particles for an hour before physical activity. More research is needed to assess the effects of non-exercise pollution exposure on the interaction between air pollution and exercise.
3. Acclimation: Athletes living in more polluted areas may have the ability to acclimate to certain pollutants, such as ozone. A study found that individuals who competed in a track meet with high ozone levels experienced fewer performance impairments due to acclimation.
4. Masking: Wearing a particle filtration mask can reduce inhaled particle count, but existing studies have only explored masking during walking and not vigorous exercise. The psychological factors associated with wearing a mask during physical activity also require further research.

For more information, read the full article, “Physiological impacts of atmospheric pollution: Effects of environmental air pollution on exercise,” in Physiological Reports.

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: To schedule an interview with a member of the research team, please contact APS Media Relations or call 301.634.7314. Find more research highlights in our Newsroom.

About Physiology and the American Physiological Society

Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues, and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society (APS) connects a global, multidisciplinary community of over 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators. The APS aims to advance scientific discovery, understand life, and improve health through collaboration, scholarly journals, and programming that support researchers and educators in their work.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Indicator: Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • Indicator: Ambient air pollution levels in cities.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Indicator: Number of deaths, injuries, and illnesses attributed to climate-related hazards.

The article addresses the issue of the interaction between exercise and air pollution exposure and its impact on health. This is relevant to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), as air pollution can lead to various chronic health conditions. The targets under SDG 3 that can be identified based on the article’s content are Target 3.9, which aims to reduce deaths and illnesses from air pollution, and Target 11.6 under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which focuses on reducing the adverse environmental impact of cities, including air quality.

The article mentions indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. For Target 3.9, the indicator is the number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution. This indicator can help track the impact of air pollution on health and assess the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce pollution. For Target 11.6, the indicator is ambient air pollution levels in cities. Monitoring air pollution levels can provide insights into the environmental impact of cities and guide efforts to improve air quality.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: newswise.com

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