A new study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that regular exercise, even in areas with high levels of air pollution, can reduce the risk of natural death.
This study adds to a growing body of evidence from smaller studies conducted in the United States, Denmark, and Hong Kong that regular exercise is beneficial, even in polluted areas.
The researchers conducted a large study with 384,130 adults in Taiwan over a 15-year period from 2001 to 2016, with the goal of determining the effects of regular exercise and long-term exposure to fine particle matter on the risk of death from natural causes.
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The researchers discovered that a higher level of regular exercise was beneficial compared to inactivity, even in polluted areas, although less pollution exposure was preferable.
“We found that a high level of habitual exercise and a low level of exposure to air pollution was associated with lower risk of death from natural causes, whereas a low level of habitual exercise and a high level of exposure was associated with higher risk of death,” say the authors.
Further studies in areas with more severe air pollution are required to examine the applicability of our findings, the authors agree.
Their study emphasises the importance of reducing air pollution and increasing the benefits of regular exercise.
In a related commentary, authors from the Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia, argue that inactivity and air pollution are “syndemics” that influence behaviour and health outcomes. Walking and biking on congested roads is not recommended due to safety concerns. People of lower socioeconomic status often lack these options.
“[R]isk reduction approaches that do not address the root causes of noncommunicable diseases could exacerbate health inequalities,” write Drs. Ding and Elbarbary.
“People should not be forced to choose between physical activity and air pollution.”
“Both physical inactivity and air pollution have detrimental effects on health. Staying active should not be at the cost of compromised health from air pollution. Addressing both major public health issues through synergistic, upstream, system-level approaches would lead to long-term health benefits for humans and the planet,” write the commentary authors.
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