A common-sense approach to reducing exposure to polluted air is required
It is an unquestionable fact that regular physical activity is beneficial to health and longevity. Accordingly, it is common practice for physicians and other health care professionals to encourage exercise. However, people exercising in urban regions may be unwittingly at risk because of exposure to concentrated automotive pollution, a known risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory disease. The physiological changes that occur during exercise probably act to compound the toxic effects of environmental air pollution, and certain patient populations may have increased sensitivity. People should not be deterred from regular exercise, as it is of known benefit, but when prescribing exercise, clinicians should extend appropriate advice to patients to avoid areas with high pollutant concentrations.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- Department of Medicine and School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD.
- 1. Nemmar A, Hoet PH, Vanquickenborne B, et al. Passage of inhaled particles into the blood circulation in humans. Circulation 2002; 105: 411-414.
- 2. Pope CA 3rd, Burnett RT, Thurston GD, et al. Cardiovascular mortality and long-term exposure to particulate air pollution: epidemiological evidence of general pathophysiological pathways of disease. Circulation 2004; 109: 71-77.
- 3. Suwa T, Hogg JC, Quinlan KB, et al. Particulate air pollution induces progression of atherosclerosis. J Am Coll Cardiol 2002; 39: 935-942.
- 4. Boffetta P, Jourenkova N, Gustavsson P. Cancer risk from occupational and environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Cancer Causes Control 1997; 8: 444-472.
- 5. Samet JM, Dominici F, Curriero FC, et al. Fine particulate air pollution and mortality in 20 US cities, 1987-1994. N Engl J Med 2000; 343: 1742-1749.
- 6. Kunzli N. The public health relevance of air pollution abatement. Eur Respir J 2002; 20: 198-209.
- 7. Committee on Environmental Health. Ambient air pollution: health hazards to children. Pediatrics 2004; 114: 1699-1707.
- 8. Sheppard D, Saisho A, Nadel JA, et al. Exercise increases sulfur dioxide-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects. Am Rev Respir Dis 1981; 123: 486-491.
- 9. Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Are diabetics more susceptible to the health effects of airborne particles? Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2001; 164: 831-833.
- 10. Goldberg MS, Burnett RT, Bailar JC 3rd, et al. Identification of persons with cardiorespiratory conditions who are at risk of dying from the acute effects of ambient air particles. Environ Health Perspect 2001; 109 (Suppl 4): 487-494.
- 11. Daigle CC, Chalupa DC, Gibb FR, et al. Ultrafine particle deposition in humans during rest and exercise. Inhal Toxicol 2003; 15: 539-552.
- 12. Koenig JQ, Pierson WE, Horike M, et al. Effects of SO2 plus NaCl aerosol combined with moderate exercise on pulmonary function in asthmatic adolescents. Environ Res 1981; 25: 340-348.
- 13. Pierson WE, Covert DS, Koenig JQ, et al. Implications of air pollution effects on athletic performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1986; 18: 322-327.
- 14. Pekkanen J, Peters A, Hoek G, et al. Particulate air pollution and risk of ST-segment depression during repeated submaximal exercise tests among subjects with coronary heart disease: the exposure and risk assessment for fine and ultrafine particles in ambient air (ULTRA) study. Circulation 2002; 106: 933-938.