Delhi has been a hub for hosting various sports events throughout the year, especially during the winter months. However, this season is also infamous for raised levels of air pollution and a hazardous air quality index. The Air Quality Index (AQI) crosses 400 in most parts of the city. Thick smog fills the atmosphere, raising serious questions about how authorities manage outdoor public events during a pollution crisis.
On the morning of 2 November, Sunday, hundreds of runners gathered at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for a 5 km and 10 km marathon organized by the Indian Air Force. Public figures, including Archana Puran Singh and actor Huma Qureshi, kicked off the route. Despite the athletic spirit, the gray sky and harsh smell of pollutants made it hard to ignore the air quality crisis that is literally holding the city and its residents in a chokehold.
Around the same time, other fitness events such as a cyclothon at the PNB Head Office in Dwarka and a nationwide “Fit India Sunday on Cycle” were taking place, indicating a strong push for community wellness and active lifestyles.
The irony is lost on those who participate in these events for fitness purposes, but the AQI status causes people more harm.
According to a research “Air Pollution and Endurance Exercise: A Systematic Review of the Potential Effects on Cardiopulmonary Health” that was published in the journal Life (Basel) in April 2025:
Endurance exercise in polluted outdoor environments significantly stresses the heart and lungs.
Pollutants like PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone amplify inflammation and reduce lung function during exercise.
Young, healthy individuals are not immune—air pollution during workouts can affect them immediately.
Long-term exposure while exercising outdoors may contribute to chronic respiratory and cardiac diseases. 1
Users across various social media platforms reacted differently to the marathon conducted during an AQI level of 400+. While some found the situation hilarious and made sarcastic jokes about the timing of the event, one user on X commented, "In an AQI of 200+, that is an accomplishment in itself, I guess."
Medical and health professionals expressed concerns over the same.
Dr. Munish Raizada, MD, FAAP, said, "It is criminal to hold "Fit India Sunday in Cycle" in a smog-filled toxic gas chamber called Delhi when air quality index (AQI) is in poisonous degree."
Seventeen monitoring stations registered air quality in the ‘severe’ range, with levels exceeding 400. Wazirpur topped the chart with an AQI of 439. Meanwhile, 20 other stations reported ‘very poor’ air quality, recording values above 300, as per data from the CPCB’s Sameer app.
Experts predict that the air quality will continue to stay in the ‘very poor’ category at least until November 4.
Practical guidance for runners/participants in polluted cities (what to watch for and protective measures):
Track AQI before heading out; avoid outdoor workouts when AQI is in the “very poor” or “severe” ranges.
If you must go out, avoid the busiest roads and choose routes with more open space or greenery where possible. 2
Consider delaying intense endurance exercise on days with high PM2.5; reduce intensity/duration when AQI is elevated. 3
Use well-fitting particulate-filtering respirators (N95/FFP2/KN95) for short exposures, understanding they reduce but do not eliminate inhaled pollution and are not a substitute for avoiding polluted outdoor exercise. 4,5
People with respiratory or cardiovascular disease, older adults, and children should avoid outdoor exercise on poor AQI days and follow their doctor’s advice. 6
References:
1. González-Rojas, Sofía, Yáñez Sepúlveda, and others. “Air Pollution and Endurance Exercise: A Systematic Review of the Potential Effects on Cardiopulmonary Health.” Life (Basel), vol. 15, no. 4 (April 3, 2025): 595. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15040595.
2. “Exercise and Air Quality: 10 Top Tips.” Breathe: Sheël, September 2015. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4666455/
3. National Centre for Disease Control (India), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. Advisory on Air Pollution and Health. New Delhi: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, May 2024. https://ncdc.mohfw.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1-ADVISORY-ON-AIR-POLLUTION-AND-HEALTH.pdf
4. IQAir Staff Writers. “Air Pollution Masks: What Works, What Doesn’t.” IQAir Newsroom, May 30 2024. https://www.iqair.com/newsroom/air-pollution-masks-what-works-what-doesn-t
5. Koch, Sarah. “How to Reduce Risk from Air Pollution during Physical Activity.” ISGlobal – Health is Global Blog, June 15 2023. https://www.isglobal.org/en/healthisglobal/-/custom-blog-portlet/reduce-risk-from-air-pollution-during-physical-activity
6. World Health Organization. WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines: Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2021. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034228
(Rh/ARC/MSM)
