Vehicular Air Pollution, Playgrounds, and Youth Athletic Fields

Abstract

In spite of epidemiological evidence concerning vehicular air pollution and adverse respiratory/cardiovascular health, many athletic fields and school playgrounds are adjacent to high traffic roadways and could present long-term health risks for exercising children and young adults. Particulate matter (PM 1 ,0.02-1.0 µm diameter) number counts were taken serially at four elementary school athletic/playground fields and at one university soccer field. Elementary school PM 1 measurements were taken over 17 days; measurements at the university soccer field were taken over 62 days. The high-traffic-location elementary school field demonstrated higher 17-day [PM 1 ] than the moderate and 2 low traffic elementary school fields (48,890 ± 34,260, 16,730 ± 10,550, 11,960 ± 6680, 10,030 ± 6280, respective mean counts; p < .05). The 62-day mean PM 1 values at the university soccer field ranged from 115,000 to 134,000 particles cm −3 . Lowest mean values were recorded at measurement sites furthest from the highway (∼34,000 particles cm −3 ) and followed a second-order logarithmic decay (R 2 = .999) with distance away from the highway. Mean NO 2 and SO 2 levels were below 100 ppb, mean CO was 0.33 ± 1.87 ppm, and mean O 3 was 106 ± 47 ppb. Ozone increased with rising temperature and was highest in the warmer afternoon hours (R = .61). Although the consequence of daily recess play and athletic activities by school children and young athletes in high ambient [PM 1 ] conditions has not yet been clearly defined, this study is a critical component to evaluating functional effects of chronic combustion-derived PM exposure on these exercising schoolchildren and young adults. Future studies should examine threshold limits and mechanistic actions of real-world particle exposure.

Inhalation of Ultrafine and Fine Particulate Matter Disrupts Systemic Vascular Function

“…Alternatively, particles in the Brook et al (2002) study were concentrated PM 2.5 , while the particles in our study were freshly generated particles from auto/truck emissions with a predominant size range in the ultrafine and nano fraction. We have recently measured the rate of particle decay with distance from a major highway (Rundell et al, 2006). We cannot rule out the influence of ozone, as ozone exposure has been shown to increase rate-pressure product and heart rate after inhalation (Gong et al, 1998).…”

“…Most studies documenting adverse health effects in relation to outdoor air pollutants have relied on measured concentrations from central monitoring stations, metrics of proximity to roads, or traffic volume estimates (Rundell et al, 2006;Zhu et al, 2002). Recent investigations support the notion that PM toxicity is highly influenced by number concentration and/or particle surface area (Oberdorster, 1996), and ambient particulate matter with median aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) has been associated with cardiovascular events (Burnett et al, 1995;Peters et al, 2001;Ware, 2000).…”

Air Pollution, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), and Autonomic Nervous System Interactions Modulate Cardiac Oxidative Stress and Electrophysiological Changes

“…They are often acutely exposed to exhaust from combustion engines during exercising or commuting and this may therefore represent an important fraction of their daily exposure to outdoor particulate pollution. The total number of particles deposited in the lungs increases in proportion to minute ventilation and the deposition fraction nearly doubles from rest to intense exercise [Rundell et al, 2006;Daigle et al, 2003]. In New York City runners, after 30 min of exercise near busy roadways, an acute rise in blood carboxyhaemoglobin from 1.7% to 5.1% occurred, a concentration similar to those found in regular cigarette smokers [Nicholson, 1983].…”

Dyspneic athlete

“…Other environmental triggers include chlorine in swimming pools [13,14] chemicals from resurfacing ice hockey rinks [15], and in urban areas from automobile exhaust [16]. EIB may be underestimated as athletes have been shown to be poor perceivers of bronchospasm [17,18] and lack awareness of symptoms [19,20].…”