title: Effects of polluted air on cardiovascular and hematological parameters after progressive maximal aerobic exercise.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exercising or doing physical activity in polluted air could expose a person to the adverse health effects of air pollution. This study aimed to compare the cardiovascular and hematologic indices following an incremental exercise test (shuttle run) under clean versus polluted air conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen male athletes aged 21-27 years were assigned to either a trained athletes group (TA, n = 10) or a complete training cessation/detrained athletes group (DA, n = 9) at least 3-4 months after their competitive season. All participants performed the multi-stage shuttle run test on two separate days in either polluted air (37.4 carbon monoxide part per million) or clean air (2.5 carbon monoxide part per million) condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared to the clean air environment, progressive incremental exercise in polluted air condition significantly (p < .05) decreased maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), red blood cell count, and hematocrit for both TA and DA groups. Meanwhile, the participants' mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean red blood cell volume, white blood cells, and platelets in these two groups increased significantly (p < .05) when they were exercised in the polluted air ambiance. Maximal heart rate and heart rate recovery showed significant (p = .04) increases only in the DA group. However, hemoglobin concentration remained unchanged in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute exposure to high concentrations of pollutants during exercise resulted in decline in cardiovascular functions and hematological parameters in healthy athletes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, HezarJerib Street, P.O. Box 81746-7344, Isfahan, Iran, kargar_m46@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kargarfard
authors.forename: Ardalan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shariat
authors.forename: Brandon S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Eddie T C
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kheiri
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eatemadyboroujeni
authors.forename: Shamsul B M
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Tamrin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000502:physiology / Q000633:toxicity*; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D010976:Platelet Count; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D002248:Carbon Monoxide