High Levels of PM10 Reduce the Physical Activity of Professional Soccer Players

Michał Zacharko (), Robert Cichowicz, Adam Depta, Paweł Chmura and Marek Konefał
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Michał Zacharko: Department of Human Motor Skills, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, I.J. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Robert Cichowicz: Institute of Environmental Engineering and Building Installations, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architekture and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Al. Politechniki 6, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Adam Depta: Department of Forecasts and Quantitative Analyses, Faculty of Organization and Management, Institute of Management, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska Street 221, 93-005 Lodz, Poland
Paweł Chmura: Department of Team Games, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, I.J. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland
Marek Konefał: Department of Human Motor Skills, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, I.J. Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine the impact of air quality, analyzed on the basis of the PM10 parameter in three regions of Poland, on the physical activity of soccer players from the Polish Ekstraklasa. The study material consisted of 4294 individual match observations of 362 players during the 2019/2020 domestic season. The measured indices included the parameter of air quality—PM10—and players’ physical activities: total distance (TD) and high-speed running (HSR). Poland was divided into three regions (North, Central, South). The statistical analysis of particulate matter (PM) and athletes’ physical activities, compared by region, revealed the effects in relation to the PM10 (H = 215.6566(2); p = 0.0001) and TD (H = 28.2682(2); p = 0.0001). Players performed better in regards to physical parameters in the North Region, where air pollution is significantly lower than in other regions. This means that even a short stay in more polluted regions can reduce the performance of professional footballers, which can indirectly affect the outcome of the match. Therefore, greater actions should be taken to improve air quality, especially through changes in daily physical activity, as this will reduce the carbon footprint.

Keywords: football; total distances covered; high speed running; intensity; air quality; particulate matter; regions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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