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BREATHE at Beijing Olmpics?
Posted January 2nd, 2008
Air pollution may affect plans for Beijing Olympics.
During a visit to China this month the president of the IOC said that some events might need to be rescheduled because of the extreme pollution that exists in the air above Beijing. If pollution levels stay where they are the air will be unsuitable for endurance events such as the marathon.
The combination of 90-degree temperatures, 90 percent humidity and the high level of particulate pollution at this years world championships made it almost impossible for the runners to complete their events. Most experts expect it to be even worse in 2008.
One way to deal with the intense pollution is to house the athletes in communities away from the worst areas of the city. The United States, Britain and Australia have already begun to find alternative housing. In 2004 athletes from the United States stayed outside of Athens because of the same problems.
In their search for solutions, physiologists with USA Track and Field are trying to find face masks that will filter out the particulates while allowing regular breathing. So far they have been unsuccessful.
Bad air in Beijing poses a triple threat to endurance athletes. Aside from the high heat and humidity there are also extremely high levels of particulates, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Any of these can trigger asthma attacks, even in athletes who have never had asthma before.
The city of Beijing will deliver a report on air quality in October that will allow the organizers to determine if any or all of the endurance events need to be moved. Even with the city under a strict traffic restriction there is still an appalling haze that threatens the lives of all of Beijing’s inhabitants.
Summarized by: Steven Abrams
