Acute cardiopulmonary responses to air pollution exposure during short controlled physical exercise in healthy males

Abstract

Background: Physical exercise increases the absorbed dose of air pollutants, therefore it is commonly recommended to limit physical activity during air pollution episodes. Aim: To determine acute cardiorespiratory responses to ambient air pollution exposure during short controlled physical exercise in healthy males. Methods: 26 young adult males (age 22.8±2.2 years old) performed two 15-min. submaximal (70% HRmax) cycle-ergometer sessions: during air pollution episode (exposure trial) and when air quality was good (control trial). Data on air pollution was recorded in the study site (PM10) or provided by the closest monitoring station (PM2.5, NOx, SO2). Air pollutants concentrations during exposure trials were higher than during control trials (PM2.5: 80.3±35.6μg/m3 vs 28.4±14.9μg/m3, p Results: All results were within the normal values. There were no significant differences in spirometry between exposure and control trial. During exposure trial larger increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was noted than during control trial directly after exercise (%change from baseline: 6.3±6.8% vs 1.7±7.1%, p=0.01) and at rest (4.2±6.3% vs -0.6±6.5%, p=0.005). Change in FeNO did not differ significantly between exposure and control trial after exercise, while at rest it was decreased only during control trial (0.0±11.8% vs -6.5±10.6%, p=0.03). Conclusions: In young and healthy males exposure to air pollution during exercise causes acute changes in FeNO and DBP.