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02-08-2007, 08:57 PM

http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=code_red
>
> Has anyone here experienced chronic lung sickness that can be traced
> back to when they started riding more/harder?
>
> I think I have developed chronic lung inflammation after an enjoable
> season of riding on urban CA. By riding a road bike alongside with
> cars you are reduce polution and get in shape, but you are poison
> yourself with car emissions. Cyclists, especially when going hard,
> expose their lower airways and alveoli to pollution at least 10 times
> more compared to the case of no exertion (i.e. compared to car
> drivers). A cyclist going hard passes at least 100 lliters of air
> through his/her lungs per minute (compared to ~10 liters per minute
> when not exertiing, assuming 500 ml average breaths and ~20 breaths
> per minute). Not everyone will develop problems, but susceptible
> people will. If I could go back, I would have switched to m.biking or
> trail running.

Regarding the article you referenced... if you follow the science, rather
than the emotion, you discover an interesting thing about ozone formation.
Something I didn't know until looking this up just now. Check out this link-
http://www.arb.ca.gov/aqd/weekendeff..._tsd_ch2_6.pdf

There's a phenomenon called "ozone quenching" which occurs in the areas
where nitrogen oxides are emitted by gas-burning vehicles. Thus ozone
monitoring facilities located near freeways & bus terminals etc show
*depressed* levels of ozone. Because ozone isn't formed at ground level...
it occurs higher up in the air. Autos belching out bad stuff are bad, but
the immediate effect on the area in which you're riding, as far as ozone is
concerned, is ironically beneficial. Very bizarre.

Of course, ozone is only a piece of the puzzle. There are many other things
coming out of tailpipes that are undeniably bad for you. But if you're
worried about ozone, you're likely to get MORE of it, not less, by choosing
mountain biking or trail running. Strange but true.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

02-08-2007, 08:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mike Jacoubowsky Posts: n/a	Re: poisoning yourself by riding http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=code_red > > Has anyone here experienced chronic lung sickness that can be traced > back to when they started riding more/harder? > > I think I have developed chronic lung inflammation after an enjoable > season of riding on urban CA. By riding a road bike alongside with > cars you are reduce polution and get in shape, but you are poison > yourself with car emissions. Cyclists, especially when going hard, > expose their lower airways and alveoli to pollution at least 10 times > more compared to the case of no exertion (i.e. compared to car > drivers). A cyclist going hard passes at least 100 lliters of air > through his/her lungs per minute (compared to ~10 liters per minute > when not exertiing, assuming 500 ml average breaths and ~20 breaths > per minute). Not everyone will develop problems, but susceptible > people will. If I could go back, I would have switched to m.biking or > trail running. Regarding the article you referenced... if you follow the science, rather than the emotion, you discover an interesting thing about ozone formation. Something I didn't know until looking this up just now. Check out this link- http://www.arb.ca.gov/aqd/weekendeff..._tsd_ch2_6.pdf There's a phenomenon called "ozone quenching" which occurs in the areas where nitrogen oxides are emitted by gas-burning vehicles. Thus ozone monitoring facilities located near freeways & bus terminals etc show depressed levels of ozone. Because ozone isn't formed at ground level... it occurs higher up in the air. Autos belching out bad stuff are bad, but the immediate effect on the area in which you're riding, as far as ozone is concerned, is ironically beneficial. Very bizarre. Of course, ozone is only a piece of the puzzle. There are many other things coming out of tailpipes that are undeniably bad for you. But if you're worried about ozone, you're likely to get MORE of it, not less, by choosing mountain biking or trail running. Strange but true. --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReactionBicycles.com