Started the second period management of air quality episodes for this 2022 in the Aburrá Valley, it will last 18 days, and Mariana Ardila, a physical trainer, stated that in times of air quality adverse for sensitive groups yes you can exercise, but better in closed spaces.
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And given that this pollution episode will be accompanied by the La Niña phenomenon, an increase in rainfall beyond the historical average is expected, which may favor a low occurrence of biomass burning in the regions near the Valle de Aburrá, the expert recommended taking care of activities that take place outdoors, such as bike paths and classes in outdoor sports settings, because due to unfavorable air quality conditionsethe health of any person can deteriorate.
The WHO recommendation, in periods with increased pollutionit is also that activities should not be done at free area.
The trainer Mariana Ardila defended that, in periods of air pollution, physical exercise should be carried out indoors. However, she said: “If they are going to do it outdoors, they must do it at the time of vehicle circulation restriction (the peak and plate), so that there is a greater reduction of polluting particles.” That is, before 5:00 am and following 8:00 pm, depending on the current validity of the restriction.
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“People breathe an average of 6 liters of air per minute, and when we exercise we breathe up to 30 liters. This air, which might be contaminated, due to poor conditions air quality, it enters the lungs and right there we are giving entry to polluting particles to our respiratory system”, he explained.
The physical trainer added that when polluting particles enter our lungs, irritation and inflammation of the airway can be generated and, later, people might present symptoms of diseases of respiratory conditions derived from the episode.
For all of the above, Mariana Ardila reaffirmed that physical exercises can be carried out indoors in times of environmental contingency, “because in a closed space, although the air that is outside circulates in all spaces, the contaminating particles fall or they rush to the ground faster, which makes the air that you breathe there in that place a little cleaner.”
In times with bad air quality, the population at greatest risk are children under 5 years of age, adults over 65, women who are pregnant, or those who suffer from sinusitis, rhinitis and other respiratory conditions.
“No one should ride a bicycle in places with environmental records in orange or red alert. If you do, it is better to use masks with a filter for fine particulate material, to reduce the entry of contaminating particles”, declared Mariana Ardila.
Another recommendation in this second period of management of episodes of air quality in 2022 in the Aburrá Valley is to monitor the stations of air quality. One way to do it is to consult Siata’s social networks and another is to download an application so that you can check how the air qualityin real time, in your immediate environment.
To learn more regarding this last option, read here >>
