impact of air quality upon athletes amidst recent fires
Athletes in Los Angeles face unique challenges posed by the city’s air quality ranging from city pollution to wildfires. Air quality can have a major impact on an athlete's performance, health and overall well-being.
Athletes face bad weather all over the world but Los Angeles is the number one city in the US with the highest ozone pollution. This is hazardous to not only the general population but athletes in particular. Athletes tend to take in 10 to 20 times more air when performing than when at rest, causing them to inhale more pollutants. Additionally, many athletes breathe with their mouths open. This lets toxins pass through without the natural filtration one usually gets from nasal breathing. These toxins then have the potential to travel to lungs susceptible to damage and infection.
Many pollutants are generated from industrialization as Los Angeles is a densely populated city with thousands of vehicle emissions per year. The recent wildfires have significantly affected the air quality as well, with chemicals such as benzene, lead, asbestos and formaldehyde all of which have derived from burned down structures built in the 70’s. All of these chemicals can increase the risk of cancer, lung infections and reproductive issues. This makes the air hazardous for athletes with prolonged exposure, especially without using protective measures like a mask.
With smoked lined along L.A it gives an eerie look to the eye and a harsh effect on the lungs.
Thousands of chemicals were released into the atmosphere, making the air quality index 300 from Jan. 8 through Jan. 13. The standard index for healthy air is between 50-100, meaning that 300 is extremely hazardous to humans. Typically, Los Angeles has a set index of 75, which is considered moderate and poses a slight risk of respiratory issues for athletes to begin with. After Jan. 13, the AQI reported the air quality as back to an index of 75, indicating it was safe to breathe based on pollution levels, however, this assessment does not account for the chemicals left lingering in the air. It may take years for Los Angeles air to become fully safe to breathe again, as asbestos is non-biodegradable and takes an exceptionally long time to break down.
Students have been struggling with the air quality, with various side effects such as coughing, shortness of breath and eye irritation affecting practices and games. The inability of some athletes to compete in their sports has had a significant impact, including delayed games, fewer practice days, and reduced athlete performance. In addition to this, athletes with underlying respiratory conditions face even greater challenges. If one has an underlying respiratory condition, such as asthma or cystic fibrosis, these conditions can be much more impactful, primarily because their existing system already struggles to cope with poor air quality and respiratory stressors.
Cecilia Fierro-Feinstein (’27) manages the challenges of living with asthma.
“With the conditions of L.A right now being extremely dry from the fires and bad air quality, it makes my asthma act up a ton, making my day-to-day life harder and definitely doing physical activities, like soccer.” Fierro-Feinstein said.
So the ultimate question is… is it safe for athletes to practice and perform to their full potential in these conditions? The short answer to this question is no. Practicing in these conditions can lead to long-term health issues and as of right now, many outdoor athletes are not performing to their potential.