Effects of Intermittent Exercise in Polluted and Clean Air on Hemolysis of Red Blood Cells in Endurance Runners

People are forced to exercise in areas with inappropriate conditions such as polluted air. Harmful effects of air pollution are intensified during physical activity and training due to increased metabolic needs. This study compared the effects of intermittent exercise in polluted and clean air on hemolysis of red blood cells in endurance runners. Using purposive convenience sampling، 10 female endurance runners with at least three years of experience of regular exercise were selected. Their mean age، height، weight، and body mass index were 18. 80 ± 2. 74 years، 164 ± 2. 84 cm، 51. 58 ± 3. 37 kg، and 19. 67 ± 1. 28، respectively. Immediately after an interval training protocol with 85% of maximum heart rate، blood samples from left brachial vein were collected in a sitting position. The first samples were obtained on a polluted day (air quality index: 118). Second sampling was conducted 18 days later، after a rainy night (air quality index: 77). Both procedures were performed at a particular time of day. Hemolysis of red blood cells was determined by measuring bilirubin and serum haptoglobin levels through spectrophotometry and immunoturbidometric tests، respectively. Paired t-tests were used to compare the two measurements. Bilirubin levels increased significantly (22%) after exercise in polluted air compared to clean air (P = 0. 001). Although haptoglobin levels decreased (23. 86%) after exercise in high concentrations of pollutants، this reduction was not statistically significant compared to the levels obtained in clean air (P = 0. 09). It seems that an interval training session in high concentrations of air pollutants will be associated with more hemolysis of red blood cells.