Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Whether physical exercises in the presence of air pollutants have deleterious effects in healthy humans is still little known. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of outdoor exercise under different PM2.5 concentrations on inflammatory markers. METHODS: 39 healthy male soldiers, non-smokers, regular runners were evaluated. They performed morning 7.5 km distance run, at 10 km/h speed, one week in a Park circuit (Pk) and another in a Public Streets circuit (PS). Samples of blood and urine were taken before and after running on two days of the week. PM2.5 concentrations were registered during the runnings. Descriptive, comparative and multiple analysis using the mixed effect model were performed. RESULTS: PM2.5 concentrations were different between circuits: Pk (24 µg/m3, IQR:11-39) and PS (53 µg/m3, IQR:37-82), p<0.001. The subjects were 19±1 years old, body mass index of 24±2 kg/m², normal blood pressure, heart rate at rest: 68±11 bpm, and heart rate during running of 160±10 bpm in Pk and 155±10 bpm in PS. After running, an increase in blood creatine phosphokinase (CK) and neutrophils was observed, combined with a reduced urinary sodium (NaU). The CC16 protein concentration in urine was significantly increased after running in the Pk circuit (Δ:51.5 ng/ml), greater than in PS circuit (Δ:21.2 ng/ml), p<0.001. Multiple analysis confirmed the elevation of CC16 after running, with a greated increase in the Pk circuit when compared to PS (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: We showed that exercise in healthy men induces muscle injury (increased CK), dehydration (decreased NaU) and lung injury (elevation of the CC16 protein), more marked in PK circuit.
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