One of the more predominantly motivational reasons to exercise is to decrease the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, among staying fit, losing weight, etc. It is widely known that an increasing amount of air pollution has become a major health problem for individuals worldwide. Something to be considered is the risk exercising in polluted air provides for individuals aiming to live a healthy life. Studies have shown that risks differ based on the type and intensity of training, as well as the amount of particulate matter found in the air.
This study aimed to further explore the effect polluted air can have on athletes versus relatively sedentary adults. Out of 240 volunteers, half were untrained adults who undergo very little activity. Of the other 120, sixty were sprinters and sixty were footballers, all having participated in their sport and consistently training for at least five years. All of the participants were equally gathered from and reside in two different cities in India. Sonarpur is a rural region of Kolkata with a significantly lower pollution rate than the urban Tollygunge. Researchers conducting the study gathered and centrifuged blood samples from each participant in the morning after a twelve hour fast in order to gain accurate readings of cholesterol levels including a break down of each type and triglycerides. Results gathered point towards a poorer lipid profile in both trained and untrained populations at a higher exposure to polluted air compared to their experimental counterparts. All participants belonged to the same nutritional and economical status in order to eliminate any other factors contributing to a difference in profiles.
These poorer lipid profiles are associated with elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, and dyslipidemia. Athletes are at an even greater risk when considering short shallow breaths through the mouth bypass all nasal mechanisms to clean the inhaled air. The study discussion was concluded with the resolve that more research should be conducted on the impact of polluted air and longitudinal studies should be done to give a more concrete answer to the impact pollution has on heart and lung diseases in athletes.
EnviPhys 