With hundreds of thousands of athletes, spectators, and support staff converging on Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, air quality and its potential impact on health and athletic performance are key concerns.
A new study by researchers in France, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, provided an in-depth look at the anticipated air quality in the Paris region during the July to September timeframe of the Games, based on historical monitoring data.
The researchers obtained air pollutant data for July to September from 2020-2023 from 50 monitoring stations operated by Airparif in the Paris region. Particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) concentrations were analyzed. Pollen data from 2015-2022 was obtained from stations operated by the French Aerobiological Surveillance Network (RNSA).
Key findings included:
- Maximum daily mean PM2.5 was 11±6 µg/m3 at traffic stations, below the WHO recommended daily air quality threshold of 15 µg/m3.
- Daily NO2 concentrations ranged from 5±3 µg/m3 in rural areas to 17±14 µg/m3 in urban areas, and 40±24 µg/m3 near traffic stations, often exceeding the WHO threshold of 25 µg/m3. NO2 peaked around 06:00 and 20:00 UTC.
- Ambient O3 exceeded the WHO 8-hour threshold of 100 µg/m3 on an average of 20 days per month and peaked at 14:00 UTC.
- The main allergenic pollen from June to September was Poaceae (grass pollen).
At the precise locations of the Olympic venues, the researchers used Airparif's street-level air quality modeling to predict PM2.5, NO2, and O3 concentrations. Statistical clustering was used to group venues into categories with similar anticipated pollution levels.
The authors noted that overall, air pollutant levels were expected to be within accepted air quality thresholds at the Paris Olympic venues. However, ozone concentrations could be significantly elevated under very hot and sunny conditions. Grass pollen levels were also expected to be high.
They advised that visitors to the Games, especially those in sensitive groups with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, be aware of the potential for elevated pollutant and allergen levels. Mitigation strategies were provided.
The researchers stated: "Forecasting not only the weather, but also air quality and airborne allergens in indoor and outdoor sports venues can help organizers and other stakeholders determine what pollution people are exposed to when exercising and to educate people on individual concrete strategies to reduce the inhaled dose."
They suggested this study's approach of reporting anticipated air quality for a major sporting event could inform best practices for committees planning future international competitions.
The authors declared having no competing interests.