Are you a gym rat? Do you love pumping iron or pounding the treadmill? Well, before you dive into your next workout, here's something you might want to know about: the air you breathe at the gym.
In a recent study published in
Environmental Science & Technology Letters, Prof. SUN Yele from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has examined the air quality in a basement gym. "Thinking back to the pandemic, my colleagues and I made it a point to visit the gym in the basement of our institute more often," said Prof. SUN. "I couldn't help but wonder what the air quality would be like with everyone sweating down there."
This personal experience prompted Prof. SUN and his team to investigate the composition and concentration of pollutants in the gym environment, recognizing the importance of understanding potential health risks associated with physical activity.
So, what did they find out? Brace yourselves!
Their study showed that the indoor air in the gym had a higher percentage of organic aerosols (particles composed primarily of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen) than the outdoor air. Inside the gym, about 50% of the stuff you breathe in is organic aerosols, while outside it's only about 40%.
But here's where it gets really interesting. They identified two specific types of organic aerosols in the gym air, one is siloxane organic aerosol (SiOA), which refers to particles that likely come from the lubricants used in gym equipment. Imagine that: the machines you're sweating on could be releasing tiny particles into the air. These particles have been found to be surprisingly high, sometimes reaching up to six micrograms per cubic meter of air.
The other is cigarette Smoke organic aerosol (CSOA): Yes, you read that right. Even if you're not lighting up at the gym, traces of cigarette smoke have been found in the air. Turns out, it's probably carried in from outside, especially during ventilation.
While hitting the gym is fantastic for your health, these findings suggest that along with burning calories, you ay also be inhaling some not-so-great stuff. Specifically, when your breathing rate increses during exercise, you're taking in more of these particles, which could potentially affect your health.
So what does this mean for you? Well, it's a reminder that while you're busy sculpting those muscles, it's important to consider the air you're breathing in. Different gyms with different equipment, occupancy rates, and ventilation systems can have different air quality levels.
Stay fit, stay healthy, and breathe easy, folks!
