Respiratory effects of road pollution in recreational cyclists: a pilot study

Abstract

We sought to measure bicyclists’ roadway exposures to particulate matter and assess whether those exposures are associated with reduced pulmonary function. Thirty-one (31) volunteer participants riding bicycles on selected routes were tracked using the Global Positioning System. Personal exposures to particulate matter (PM-10) were measured during the rides and pulmonary function tests were administered at baseline, immediately after the ride, and 2 and 6–24 hours later. Post-ride decrements in pulmonary function were observed for several outcome measures, with the largest differences immediately post-ride. Statistically-significant declines in FEV₁ (-38.42, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), −63.79 to −13.05 ml), FVC (-36.89, 95% CI, −62.96, −10.84 ml), and PEFR (-162, 95% CI −316.02 to −9.49 ml/sec) were observed for each increase in decile of peak exposure. PM-10 exposures encountered on roadways may put bicyclists at risk for pulmonary deficits.

Keywords:

• Cycling
• exercise
• FEV1
• FVC
• particulate air pollution
• particulate matter
• peak exposure
• PM-10
• pulmonary function

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Jeff Angermann, Yushiuan Chen, Joleen Nemeth and Leilani Ungaro for assistance with data collection.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare they have no financial interest or benefit related to the research.