If you talk to a marathon runner about a week before their race, you’ll likely find them obsessively checking the weather forecast on their smartphone. That’s because adverse weather conditions—be it high humidity, icy rain, or excessive heat—can significantly impair their performance, slowing them down compared to their training runs. Months of rigorous preparation can feel wasted due to these uncontrollable elements. Nowadays, there’s a new concern that might preoccupy athletes as the race day approaches: the quality of the air they breathe.
A recent study published in December in the journal Sports Medicine identified a link between higher levels of air pollution—though still under the limits defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—and slower marathon finishing times. The findings indicate that even moderate air pollution could negatively affect athletic performance.
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The focus of the study was on fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which consists of tiny particles produced by sources like wildfires, agricultural burning, and vehicle emissions. These particles are so minuscule that they can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Previous research has associated prolonged exposure to PM2.5 with several health problems, including cancer, heart disease, and respiratory conditions.
It’s well-documented that exercising in environments with poor air quality, characterized by high levels of PM2.5, is harmful to health. However, its specific impact on performance in endurance sports like marathons, where athletes are exposed to the elements for extended periods, is less understood.
To gain more insight, the researchers employed a machine-learning model to estimate levels of fine particulate matter at each mile along the courses of nine different U.S. marathons held between 2003 and 2019. This model integrated data from air quality sensors and geographical coordinates along with weather and terrain information, providing a detailed map of air quality more accurate than that available from distant monitoring stations.
They analyzed over 2.5 million marathon finishing times, adjusting for other potentially performance-affecting weather conditions such as extreme heat or humidity. The results showed that an increase of just one microgram per cubic meter in PM2.5 concentration led to a 32-second increase in finishing times for male runners and 25 seconds for female runners. The impact was particularly notable among faster-than-average runners, though not quite elite athletes.
Elvira Fleury, the study’s lead author and a doctoral student at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, suggests marathon runners should consider air pollution as another environmental factor that might affect their race day performance. “Just as you might excuse a slower run on a very hot day, you can do the same when air quality is poor,” says Fleury, who is also an endurance athlete.
Matthew Ely, an assistant professor of human physiology at Providence College and not involved in the study, emphasizes the need to understand how pollution affects athletes during exercise, suggesting that pollutants might alter physiological functions such as blood flow, inflammation levels, and even lung and brain operation.
While research into the relationship between air quality and endurance race performance is still emerging, this study aligns with smaller scale research, such as a 2023 study in *Scientific Reports* that observed slower race times in college athletes exposed to higher levels of PM2.5 and ozone.
The research raises broader questions about exercise, air pollution, and safety for runners, particularly in large urban areas where many major marathons are located. Given the ubiquity of pollution in big cities and the importance of exercise for health, Ely points out the need for greater attention to environmental factors impacting athletic performance.
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Cameron Aldridge combines a scientific mind with a knack for storytelling. Passionate about discoveries and breakthroughs, Cameron unravels complex scientific advancements in a way that’s both informative and entertaining.