The Olympics of Madness, TOM
What’s in an acronym: CFO, carbon free Olympics, or FCO, free carbon Olympics?
Try AAAAI which stands for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. AAAAI experts say that the air pollution in Beijing could pose problems for competitors, especially those with asthma.
Heavy pollution hangs over downtown Beijing on May 25, 2008. Continual air pollution in China’s capital remains a top concern for many athletes due to descend upon Beijing in less than two months. (UPI Photo/Stephen Shaver). Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!
AAAAI experts also say exercise-induced asthma, EIA, affects an estimated 20 percent of top athletes and about one in six of all Olympic athletes. EIA also affects individuals who are not chronic asthma sufferers.
AAAI will publish their new study about EIA in, wait for it, JACI. JACI stands for the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
EIA [not the energy information people] can be controlled with some asthma drugs, but the experts warned athletes to seek official approval first to prevent breach of ADR (anti-doping regulations), which restrict the use of many asthma drugs at the Olympics.
“Athletes consume more air and this can end in cardiovascular problems. Particulates can get into the respiratory system and blood, creating an inflammatory response,” said Wong Chitming of the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Community Medicine (WC of UHKDCM).
“Blood viscosity goes up and this affects circulation and … energy distribution. Muscles that need the energy may not get it. At worst, people can even land in hospital.” He said.
WC advises athletes to avoid crowded places and eat lots of vegetables and fruit.
“Fruit and vegetables may help. Our past study has shown that they can reduce the ill effects of air pollution,” he said. [As for the effects of diarrhea, that’s another matter!]
Smoke billows from a chimney at a chemical factory in Tianjin municipality, neighboring Beijing February 22, 2008. Tianjin has ordered 40 factories to shut for the Olympics. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!
The Chinese Capital Beijing (CCB), as you’ll all know by now, is one of world’s most polluted cities. To keep down the number of claims for health damage [indeed suffocation by polluted air] by foreign athletes and visitors alike, the authorities have removed up to a half of a million cars off the capital’s roads [they will also operate an odd-even license plate system to allow only half the cities 3.2 million cars on the roads each day] and closed down about 500 factories in a 150-km radius of Beijing.
Now that’s what you call MASYB, or massive action to save your butt!
Beijing was still shrouded in thick smog this week, Reuters reported, with buildings only 100 meters away barely visible.
Related News Links:
Related Links:
Fire Earth 