Exercise in polluted air may harm the heart and lungs, study warns
A new analysis of controlled trials finds that working out in dirty air triggers subtle but consistent damage to respiratory and cardiovascular function—potentially eroding the health gains from physical activity itself. The finding has implications for urban planning, workplace policy, and how cities balance emissions controls with public health messaging.
Originaltitel: Effects of physical activity in polluted air on physiological health in healthy populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials
= 74%, k = 5, very low CoE) decreased, whereas results for inflammatory cytokines were inconsistent. Findings for hematological and inflammatory markers should be interpreted cautiously given heterogeneity and generally low certainty of evidence. Overall, these modest but consistent changes suggest that repeated exposure during exercise may accumulate respiratory and cardiovascular risks, underscoring the need to promote activity in cleaner environments to safeguard health benefits.