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Investigating performance and lung function in a hot, humid and ozone-polluted environment

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Abstract

Large urbanized areas, where sports events take place, have a polluted environment and can also reach high temperatures and humidity levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a hot, humid and ozone-polluted (O3) environment on (1) performance of an 8 km time trial run, (2) pulmonary function, and (3) subjective respiratory symptoms in endurance-trained runners. Using crossover randomized design, 10 male participants (mean\( \mathop V\limits^{.} {\text{O}}_{2\max } = 64.4 \) mlO2 kg−1 min−1, SD = 4.4) took part in a time trial run under four different conditions: 20°C + 50% relative humidity (rh) (Control), 20°C + 50% rh + 0.10 ppm O3 (Control + O3), 31°C + 70% rh (Heat), 31°C + 70% rh + 0.10 ppm O3 (Heat + O3). Heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion and minute ventilation were collected during the run. Lung function was measured pre and post-exercise. The runners completed a respiratory symptoms questionnaire after each trial. The completion time of both the Heat (32 min 35 s) and Heat + O3 (33 min 09 s) trials were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) when compared to the Control + O3 (30 min 27 s) and Control (30 min 15 s) trials. There were no significant changes between pre/post lung function measures or between trials. The effective dose of ozone simulated in the present study did not affect the performance and therefore, ozone-pollution, at an environmentally relevant concentration, did not compound the impairment in performance beyond that induced by a hot, humid environment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the support from UK Sport, Olympic Medical Institution and the time and effort from the runners that took part in this study. This work was supported by Edinburgh Napier University and UK Sport Grants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedicine and Sports Science Research Group, Edinburgh Napier University, Merchiston Campus, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT, UK

    Elisa Couto Gomes, Vicki Stone & Geraint Florida-James

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  1. Elisa Couto Gomes
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  2. Vicki Stone
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  3. Geraint Florida-James
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Correspondence to Elisa Couto Gomes.

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Communicated by Narihiko Kondo.

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Gomes, E.C., Stone, V. & Florida-James, G. Investigating performance and lung function in a hot, humid and ozone-polluted environment. Eur J Appl Physiol 110, 199–205 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1485-8

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