The Dirty Secret of Outdoor Exercise

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Protect Yourself

Follow these tips to limit your exposure to pollution, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency and others.

If golf is your game...

Call for the spraying schedule before you hit the links; avoid the course for 24 hours after a dusting of fertilizers or pesticides. During your game, wear gloves.

If swimming is your sport...

Google "EPA Beacon Beach Advisory" to find out the conditions at your favorite beach. Skip the swim if advisories are posted or if it has rained heavily within the past 24 hours: The likelihood of sewage overflow and storm runoff is higher. (For lakes and lagoons, keep away for up to 72 hours.) Always wear goggles and close your mouth while swimming; shower and rinse your suit immediately afterward.

If jogging, biking, or hiking is more your speed...

Check the Air Quality Index for your area (airnow.gov) or sign up for EPA e-mails at enviroflash.info. On days when air quality is poor, work out in the early morning or in the evening; ozone levels are generally at their lowest during those times. And when possible, try to run, walk, or bike upwind to minimize pollution exposure.

Originally published in FITNESS magazine, April 2010.

Walking Workout for a Greener Planet >>
How Do I Eat Green? >>
Eating for the Environment >>

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milasew wrote:

Are they trying to help gyms membership rates go up with this article? I'm sure there are health dangers in there too, with all the chlorine, cleaning chemicals, and off-gassing!

4/14/2013 02:03:05 PM Report Abuse

hailzuko1 wrote:

I always perferred to get my cardio through my exercise DVD's anyway. :/

4/27/2012 02:55:12 AM Report Abuse

mbuencon wrote:

I agree with Shawn...whats the alternative? Should I go out and purchase a teadmill?

4/26/2012 02:16:33 PM Report Abuse

Shawn.Helley wrote:

What a load of rubbish, yes running in a busy street is probably not the best for you, but Im sure that running and walking in parks ect is doing more good to you than harm, if you listened to every story like this you would end up not being able to do anything as it "might be bad for you"

4/26/2012 11:25:30 AM Report Abuse