Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2001 Aug;35(4):214-22.
doi: 10.1136/bjsm.35.4.214.

Exercise and outdoor ambient air pollution

A J Carlisle  1 , N C Sharp
Affiliations
Review

Exercise and outdoor ambient air pollution

A J Carlisle et al. Br J Sports Med. 2001 Aug.

Abstract

Objectives: To establish by literature survey: (a) levels at which air pollutants are considered damaging to human health and to exercisers in particular; (b) the current ambient levels experienced in the United Kingdom; (c) whether athletes are especially at risk.

Methods: Six major urban air pollutants were examined: carbon monoxide (CO); nitrogen oxides (NO(X)); ozone (O(3)); particulate matter (PM(10)); sulphur dioxide (SO(2)); volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Results: CO is detrimental to athletic performance. NO(2) is of concern to human health, but outdoor levels are low. O(3) poses a potentially serious risk to exercising athletes. Decrements in lung function result from exposure, and there is evidence that athletic performance may be affected. Detrimental effects may occur at low ambient levels, but there is no scientific consensus on this matter. PM(10) is causing concern in the scientific community. Blood lead accumulation during exercise indicates that personal exposure to toxic compounds associated with PM(10) may be magnified. Generally, outdoor ambient levels of SO(2) are too low to cause a problem to the athlete, except the asthmatic athlete. The few studies on exposure of exercisers to VOCs are reviewed.

Conclusions: Athletes and exercisers should avoid exercising by the road side even though levels of the more noxious air pollutants have been controlled in the United Kingdom. O(3) is particularly damaging to athletes; it reaches its highest concentrations on hot bright days in rural areas.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. J Clin Invest. 1965 Nov;44(11):1899-910 - PubMed
    1. J Appl Physiol. 1975 Jul;39(1):71-5 - PubMed
    1. Ergonomics. 1981 May;24(5):365-74 - PubMed
    1. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1981 Oct;51(4):858-63 - PubMed
    1. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1982 May;52(5):1124-7 - PubMed

MeSH terms