Will Beijing's air pollution affect Olympic athletes?
Beijing smog. Image Credit: Boris van Hoytema
Air pollution in Beijing – site of this summer’s Olympic Games – has been in the news.
Jonathan Samet: Beijing does have air quality problems. The air pollution is very often quite visible.
That’s Dr. Jonathan Samet, who chairs the department of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. He’s an air pollution expert, and he’s worked in Beijing for 15 years. He told us about a new study – published by Chinese scientists – showing that in August and September of 2007, Beijing’s particle pollution and ozone greatly exceeded the recommended maximum level in the national air quality standards. We asked Dr. Samet how air pollution might affect the way Olympic athletes perform in August.
Jonathan Samet: It might reduce the level of their lung function. Another concern is that, if the athletes were to encounter enough carbon monoxide, that could potentially reduce the delivery of oxygen to their muscles.
The dirty air can also trigger asthma attacks, coughing, and teary eyes. Scientists, however, aren’t sure to what degree the smog will diminish what the athletes can achieve.
Jonathan Samet: There’s been remarkably little study on the effects of air pollution specifically on the performance of athletes. There have been a few studies over the years, but there’s not been the kind of systematic data that we’d like to see since so often athletic events are held in major cities.
Only Australia is Cognizant of Beijing Smog Danger, Sending Team from Hong Kong Training Camp for Event Only; Olympics President Asked to Remove Triathlon, Marathon, and Cycling Out of Deadly Smog
Stephen Fox
[see also: http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=53481&ret=AccountDtl.aspx]
Because of concern about air quality, most of Australia’s track and field athletes will miss the Aug. 8 Olympic opening ceremonies in Beijing. With events beginning after Aug. 15, one week after the opening, Athletics Australia has chosen to hold its pre-Olympic training camp in Hong Kong. Competitors will then fly to Beijing three or four days before their events.
“As many sports have said, China presents difficulties for athletes going in and being there for a period of time,” Athletics Australia national performance manager Max Binnington. “Anything more than five or six days and they inevitably end up with some sort of respiratory problem. So that was why many of the sports who don’t have to be in there early are choosing not to go in. And the outcome is that it’s almost impossible to go for the opening ceremony.” Australia’s triathletes will also miss the opening ceremonies for similar reasons. “Most of our athletes have accepted the decision straight away.”
Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Bejiing organizing committee, stated that nations could be flexible for the opening ceremonies. “Every team can arrange its schedule according to its own plan,” Sun said. “As for the environmental problems, we’ve said many times that we’re confident that we can provide clean air during the Olympic Games.” A plan for Beijing’s notoriously clogged traffic include half of the city’s 3.3 million vehicles being banned each day, using an odd-even system from registration plates.
“Generally those competing of the first day or the second day don’t march, standing up for eight hours a day or so before competition isn’t a medically smart thing to do,” AOC spokesman Tancred said. Australian and Hong Kong physicians have backed this up: see “Medical Experts Say Olympians Face Health and Performance Difficulties in Beijing’s Air Pollution from Hong Kong and Australian Physicians: Even Spectators Should Worry!” at:
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=52625&ret=AccountDtl.aspx,
an article by Tan Ee Lyn.
Despite IOC President Jacques Rogge’s “Beijing air pollution cheer” a few days ago from Lausanne, Switzerland, in which he basically dismisses all of these concerns, I would like you to be aware of my latest articles, which we refer to by URL in order to bring you the photo essay on Beijing smog:
[Title: Jacques Rogge and Olympic Committee: Please move Marathon, Triathlon, and Cycling out of Beijing’s Deadly Air Pollution! Carbon Monoxide, Industrial Pollution, Lead, Particulate Matter, Ozone]
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=52987&ret=AccountDtl.aspx
_______________________________
Please also see earlier article:
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=52585&ret=AccountDtl.aspx
[Title: Beijing’s Infernal Air Pollution Will Kill A Few Olympic Athletes; Most US Athletes Will Wear Masks While Preparing for Their Events]
If you know Olympic athletes, physicians, sports enthusiasts, and internationally minded people, please forward this to them, and to friends and colleagues. If you comprehend that we could prevent a few athletes from inevitable expiration in the Beijing smog, you can also email Mr. Rogge directly:
http://www.olympic.org/uk/utilities/registration_uk.asp?prm_action=req
Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor Santa Fe Sun News
stephen@santafefineart.com
Photo Essay: Close Up of Bird’s Nest Stadium Engulfed in Beijing Smog:
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/01JI8wJ5zmffG/610x.jpg
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/07/10/a-month-before-the-olympics-beijing-still-failing-air-quality-test/
http://thinkorthwim.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/yutian-pollution.jpg
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/10/25/beijing_narrowweb__300×375,0.jpg
One by my wise sardonic friend, James Fallows, Washington Editor Atlantic Monthly:
http://www.chinaherald.net/uploaded_images/BJpollution-761160.jpg
China is trying to temporarily suspend it’s air pollution for the Olymipics. Is the world going to accept this false solution – never mind China’s human rights violiations – and have fun at the Olypmics?
This country had pollution and then it fixed it. Give China a chance.
Are the athletes that scared to go breathe some CO2? Chinas gonna be world power soon so dont start complaining about its pollution. go fix your own problems and stop getting mixed up in others. All you can do is just put negative comments about it.
They didn’t fix SQUAT. Have you ever lived there like I HAVE?? Air pollution is only ONE of their vices. They’ve also seen fit to pollute every waterway in their country with sewage and industrial runoff. You’ll see it on TV with everyone taking a swing from their bottles of WAHAHA.
When it rains, it’s DUST and acid. Imagine your tiled shower walls after 100 years of slime and scum; their buildings look that way in 1 day.
But the Goracle told me only evil Americans are polluting. How can the peaceful Chinese be in the wrong?
Hey guys ! This is a lucky beijing boy saw your words here,fortunately .
Speaking frankly,your words about China are all ture.And they are all the defects of today’s China.
But,everything,every people,every country,every planet in this universe seemly has its own drawbacks.
All we need to do is to find them and try to change the bad state.
Unfortuantely,as chinese ,we all have the deficencies to find the faults.
The reason is,i think ,maybe the people,the unperfect systerm,or sth else.
So,that is why we need you and your words and your coming to China,your seeing China with your own eyes.
There is an old saying in China当局者迷，旁观者清
means，“The lookers-on see most of the game “.
I believe,thanks to your words ,China can be herself better.
And we are always trying our best to do it.
In addtion,as an old member of our mother earth,China has its long history and mystery.
And we need your intelligence here to find it and for further culture communication.
However,we are all the sons of mother earth ,we should help each other,right?
Pls forgive me for my bad english and abrupt ideas.
Welcome to China,sincerestly ,for another old saying 眼见为实，耳听为虚
means ，“Words are but wind, but seeing is believing.”
Thankyou.
Choirayray@msn.com
Science magazine also published an article on this topic in its August 1 issue, which includes a special focus on China’s environmental challenges.
In terms of how air pollution might affect Olympic athletes in Beijing, the story says it probably will, although asthmatic athletes who take medicine for their asthma might have an advantage.
Check it out here: Will Beijing’s Dirty Air Hurt Performance?
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/321/5889/624
If a “Gold Medal” were given to CO2 & pollution, China would be a safe bet.
hello? what part of china have the people complimenting china looked at? if you have been there, the air is bad, they are not the leading country, and they will not be the leading country, no way. they have no right to take over Taiwan. their air is bad, they have gross people, they discriminate asians!(if your a chinese you read nothing) I think that scince they held the olmpics there, i don’t even think that there’ll be an olympics at 2012 at london. did you know why the staddium is called the birds nest, it’s because they built it like a birds nest (rough and messy, very badly built. right anyway, do you know how many people they kicked out of the area to build the stadium? yeah well the goverment’s suppose to give the citizens that have been kicked out a place to live but no, they have nowhere to live. AND PEOPLE SAY THAT CHINA IS A GREAT PLEACE!!!!! which part of china were they looking at!
hello? what part of china have the people complimenting china looked at? if you have been there, the air is bad, they are not the leading country, and they will not be the leading country, no way. they have no right to take over Taiwan. their air is bad, they have gross people, they discriminate asians!(if your a chinese you read nothing) I think that scince they held the olmpics there, i don’t even think that there’ll be an olympics at 2012 at london. did you know why the staddium is called the birds nest, it’s because they built it like a birds nest (rough and messy, very badly built. right anyway, do you know how many people they kicked out of the area to build the stadium? yeah well the goverment’s suppose to give the citizens that have been kicked out a place to live but no, they have nowhere to live. AND PEOPLE SAY THAT CHINA IS A GREAT PLEACE!!!!! which part of china were they looking at!
too hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t think china is polluting i think its just the people who work in factories we shouldn’t judje other people what did they ever do to us so we have no right to blame china only a few people
you people are wrong you huti ponea pakabala