Everyone knows that physical activity, especially if it is practiced regularly, brings significant health benefits. However, some people may wonder if playing outdoors associated with exposure to air pollution ultimately carries more risks than benefits. Researchers are providing clear answers.

In 2017, air pollution was responsible for nearly 5 million deaths worldwide. It was also the 5th cause of disability because of its deleterious effects on health. Polluted air has become a public health issue in a world where ecology does not always come to the fore. In addition, an inactive person has a higher risk of death due to the potential onset of disease. Indeed, since the inactivity was in 2012, “ the fourth risk factor for death in the world And was attributable to 5,3 million deaths. Faced with this edifying observation, the various health actors, such as the World Health Organization, wish to reduce sedentary lifestyle by 15% by 2030.  

However, there is some controversy over the benefits and risks of exercising in polluted areas. This is why a large study was carried out in Hong Kong. Scientists recruited more than 384 Taiwanese over the age of 000 and followed their medical records for 18 years, from 15 to 2001. The researchers wanted to know if the benefits of sport in a polluted area outweighed the risks in the face of the pollution. inhalation of fine particles. The results, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, suggest that pollution does not erase the benefits of exercise. As Dr. Xiang Qian Lao, one of the lead authors of the study, puts it, “ Habitual exercise reduces the risk of death regardless of exposure to air pollution. Also, it would also be better to practice physical activity regularly, even under pollution, than to be sedentary. Indeed, it is explained in the medical journal that a “ higher level of usual exercise was associated with a lower risk of death from natural causes. So, in order to improve their general health, the researchers advise everyone to play sports according to their abilities, even if they live in a polluted area.

When the level of pollution reaches its peak, however, it is advisable to adapt the sport practiced. Indeed, in the long term, it is not good to inhale air pollutants during exercise, because the ” ventilation rate increases, which increases the volume of air pollutants »Absorbed through the respiratory tract. Whenever possible, for example, it is best to avoid jogging along busy roads, especially during peak pollution periods. During these episodes, it is best to go to the forest or to a gym. To know the quality of the air, applications exist. They allow you to anticipate and adapt your physical activity. 

For the team of scientists, it is absolutely necessary to reduce atmospheric pollution and to put in place strategies to combat this phenomenon, which has increasingly serious consequences for human health, but also for the environment.