Air Pollution and Its Impact on Physical Fitness Level in Relation with Nutritional Status

Abstract

The present study was carried out with an objective to find out relationship between nutritional status and physical fitness level of junior sportspersons, age ranging between 14 and 16 years, in two different ambient air pollutant zones in West Bengal, India. The sample consisted of 50 sprinters (trained boys) (25 from Kolkata and 25 from Sonarpur) and 80 untrained boys (40 from Kolkata and 40 from Sonarpur) of West Bengal. Ambient air quality of two zones was monitored. Air pollutants' levels were higher in Kolkata than Sonarpur. The physical fitness parameters included agility, leg muscle power, speed and handgrip strength. Nutritional status was measured by oral questionnaire method and nutritive values (energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamin C, β-carotene, vitamin B $_1$ ) were calculated. Result revealed that physical fitness parameters were significantly higher in both sprinters and untrained boys of Sonarpur than Kolkata. No significant difference was observed in energy, carbohydrate, protein and fat intake between the groups. But vitamin C, β-carotene and vitamin B $_1$ intake showed significant higher values in both sprinters and untrained boys of Sonarpur. It was concluded that environmental air pollutants have adverse effect on physical fitness components and higher intake of vitamins helped both sprinters and untrained boys of Sonarpur to improve the performance level against the impact of air pollution.