The Effect of Air Pollution The Effect of Air Pollution on Human Performanceon Human Performance

Mike Plyley, Ph.D., Mike Plyley, Ph.D.,

Brock University (Brock University (mplyley@brocku.camplyley@brocku.ca))

National Coaching InstituteNational Coaching Institute

NCCP Level 4/5 NCCP Level 4/5

Task 5 - Environmental FactorsTask 5 - Environmental Factors

Major Air PollutantsMajor Air Pollutants Carbon monoxide (CO)Carbon monoxide (CO) Nitrogen oxide (NONitrogen oxide (NO22)) Ozone (OOzone (O33)) Sulfur dioxide (SOSulfur dioxide (SO22)) Volatile organic compoundsVolatile organic compounds Particulate matterParticulate matter

Considerations for the AthleteConsiderations for the Athlete Increased ventilation (both rate and Increased ventilation (both rate and

depth of breathing) to increase Odepth of breathing) to increase O22 intake intake

Mouth vs. nose breathing – with mouth Mouth vs. nose breathing – with mouth breathing, there is no filtering, and the breathing, there is no filtering, and the increased air flow carries pollutants deep increased air flow carries pollutants deep into the respiratory system.into the respiratory system.

The increased pulmonary diffusion The increased pulmonary diffusion capacity during exercise leads to a capacity during exercise leads to a greater transfer of pollutants to blood.greater transfer of pollutants to blood.

Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide 30 min of exercise in traffic is equivalent to 30 min of exercise in traffic is equivalent to

smoking 10 cigarettessmoking 10 cigarettes 4-6% in city cyclists4-6% in city cyclists // runners exhibit significantly runners exhibit significantly

elevated levels of COelevated levels of CO CO displaces OCO displaces O22 from hemoglobin, and CO has from hemoglobin, and CO has

200x greater affinity (binding) to hemoglobin, 200x greater affinity (binding) to hemoglobin, and therefore decreases oxygen transport and therefore decreases oxygen transport capabilitycapability // capacitycapacity

Nitrogen OxideNitrogen Oxide Main source is trafficMain source is traffic Highly toxicHighly toxic Causes pharyngeal cough, Causes pharyngeal cough,

respiratory tract irritation, and respiratory tract irritation, and dyspnoea (breathlessness)dyspnoea (breathlessness)

Reduces resistance to infection Reduces resistance to infection by as much as 20%by as much as 20%

OzoneOzone Rarely exceeds the 1000 ppm limit – Rarely exceeds the 1000 ppm limit –

higher in summer, and higher between higher in summer, and higher between the times of 10 am – 1 pmthe times of 10 am – 1 pm

Results in a significant decrement in Results in a significant decrement in pulmonary functionpulmonary function

Causes nCauses nose and throat irritation, ose and throat irritation, coughing, wheezing,coughing, wheezing, dyspnoea dyspnoea ((shortness of breath),shortness of breath), n nausea, and ausea, and headacheheadache

Leads to an increase in free-radicals – Leads to an increase in free-radicals – use anti-oxidant vitamins to counteractuse anti-oxidant vitamins to counteract

Some acclimatization is possibleSome acclimatization is possible

Particulate Matter (e.g., lead)Particulate Matter (e.g., lead) Often visible as one of the Often visible as one of the

components in smogcomponents in smog < 10 µm diameter particles < 10 µm diameter particles Interacts with water in air to Interacts with water in air to

create other compounds (e.g., create other compounds (e.g., sulfuric acid) sulfuric acid)

Often highly carcinogenicOften highly carcinogenic

AJ Carlisle and NCC Sharp. Brit. J. Sports Med.35: 214-222, 2001.

Sulfur DioxideSulfur Dioxide

DO dissolves in water and DO dissolves in water and is absorbed in airwaysis absorbed in airways

Asthmatics are 10x more Asthmatics are 10x more sensitive to SOsensitive to SO22

Causes Causes bronchospasmbronchospasm Treat with B-agonistsTreat with B-agonists

Volatile Organic CompoundsVolatile Organic Compounds

2 million tons per year added to 2 million tons per year added to atmosphereatmosphere

Often overlooked, and therefore there Often overlooked, and therefore there is little research availableis little research available

Caused mainly by combustion enginesCaused mainly by combustion engines Highly carcinogenicHighly carcinogenic

RecommendationsRecommendations

• Stay away from traffic when training, in Stay away from traffic when training, in particular, avoid rush hourparticular, avoid rush hour

• Consider effects of car travel prior to competitionConsider effects of car travel prior to competition• Monitor and consider pollution reportsMonitor and consider pollution reports• Anti-oxidants and B-caroteneAnti-oxidants and B-carotene• Fresh fruits and vegetables supply anti-oxidantsFresh fruits and vegetables supply anti-oxidants• Acclimatize 30 min/day, 1-3 days prior to Acclimatize 30 min/day, 1-3 days prior to

competition competition • Use a gradual stepwise warm upUse a gradual stepwise warm up• Get athletes who appear to have difficulty tested Get athletes who appear to have difficulty tested

for exercise-induced, or peer air quality-induced, for exercise-induced, or peer air quality-induced, broncho-spasmbroncho-spasm

Beijing, 2008?Beijing, 2008?

On a clear day On “less” than a clear day

Beijing, 2008?Beijing, 2008?

Beijing, 2008?Beijing, 2008?

Beijing, 2008?Beijing, 2008?

Beijing, 2008?Beijing, 2008?

Beijing, 2008?Beijing, 2008?

Beijing, 2008? Beijing, 2008?

The Effect of Noise Pollution The Effect of Noise Pollution on Human Performanceon Human Performance

Mike Plyley, Ph.D., Mike Plyley, Ph.D.,

Brock University (Brock University (mplyley@brocku.camplyley@brocku.ca))

National Coaching InstituteNational Coaching Institute

NCCP Level 4/5 NCCP Level 4/5

Task 5 - Environmental FactorsTask 5 - Environmental Factors

Important Elements to Measure Important Elements to Measure when Assessing Noisewhen Assessing Noise

Intensity (measured in decibels)Intensity (measured in decibels) Frequency or frequency components Frequency or frequency components

(measured in Hertz)(measured in Hertz) Duration (measured in hours)Duration (measured in hours)

Note: when assessing the potential of Note: when assessing the potential of bodily damage due to noise, intensity bodily damage due to noise, intensity and duration are related; there is a and duration are related; there is a doubling of the potential for hearing doubling of the potential for hearing damage with every 3db increase in damage with every 3db increase in noise intensitynoise intensity

Noise Intensity LevelsNoise Intensity Levels BreathingBreathing 10db10db Rustling leavesRustling leaves 20db20db WhisperingWhispering 25db25db Normal conversationNormal conversation 60db60db Alarm clockAlarm clock 80db80db FactoryFactory 85db85db Fitness class musicFitness class music 95db95db Leaf blowerLeaf blower 100db100db Power mowerPower mower 105db105db Noise in an arenaNoise in an arena 120db120db Live rock musicLive rock music 130db130db Pain threshold from noisePain threshold from noise 140db140db GunshotGunshot 170db170db Rocket lauchRocket lauch 180db180db

Danger from NoiseDanger from Noise

IntensityIntensity Exposure TimeExposure Time 85 db85 db 8 hr/day8 hr/day 88 db88 db 4 hr/day4 hr/day 91 db91 db 2 hr/day2 hr/day 94 db94 db 1 hr/day1 hr/day 97 db97 db 0.50 hr/day 0.50 hr/day 100 db100 db 0.25 hr/day 0.25 hr/day>140 db>140 db immediate immediate

Other IssuesOther Issues

Noise continuous or intermittentNoise continuous or intermittent How much time between exposuresHow much time between exposures Is the environment enclosed?Is the environment enclosed? Are there reflective surfaces for the Are there reflective surfaces for the

noise?noise? Distance from the source of the noiseDistance from the source of the noise Individual susceptibilityIndividual susceptibility

Biological Effects of NoiseBiological Effects of Noise Essentially noise acts as a stressor, Essentially noise acts as a stressor,

and therefore, the effects of noise on and therefore, the effects of noise on bodily function are similar to those bodily function are similar to those seen with any stressor.seen with any stressor.

Many of these responses are described Many of these responses are described by the so-called “flight, fight, and by the so-called “flight, fight, and fright” responses, and effect nearly fright” responses, and effect nearly all physiological systemsall physiological systems

Etiology of the Stress ResponseEtiology of the Stress Response

Because the need to respond is Because the need to respond is immediate, the conscious mind is immediate, the conscious mind is bypassed as the body responds bypassed as the body responds “instinctually”.“instinctually”.

The major players in these responses The major players in these responses are the so-call stress hormones – are the so-call stress hormones – adrenalin and cortisol, which aim to adrenalin and cortisol, which aim to accelerate body function.accelerate body function.

Etiology of the Stress ResponseEtiology of the Stress Response Increases breathing, heart rate, and Increases breathing, heart rate, and

blood pressure, and alter metabolism blood pressure, and alter metabolism (rapid release of glucose and free (rapid release of glucose and free fatty acids into the bloodstream).fatty acids into the bloodstream).

Remain active long after the event Remain active long after the event has ended or subsided.has ended or subsided.

May require a conscious effort, (e.g., May require a conscious effort, (e.g., relaxation technique) to bring things relaxation technique) to bring things back into homeostasis.back into homeostasis.

Effects of Noise as a StressorEffects of Noise as a Stressor Females have a lower threshold than Females have a lower threshold than

men, and their responses are greater men, and their responses are greater than those of males.than those of males.

Constant low level noise seems to Constant low level noise seems to result in higher levels of stress and result in higher levels of stress and lower motivation.lower motivation.

Men are more vulnerable to the Men are more vulnerable to the adverse effects caused by stress, adverse effects caused by stress, including hypertension, aggressive including hypertension, aggressive behaviour, alcohol abuse.behaviour, alcohol abuse.