Edit: Do check out the latest post for an update on particulate matter inhalation during exercise
Now that we’ve established the forms of environmental pollution caused by chalk, let’s talk about the negative impacts this can have on human health. As we previously discovered, indoor climbing gyms have elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter caused by the use of climbing chalk. But what exactly does this mean for climbers and how exactly are they impacted?
According to the study done by Weinbruch et al (2008), climbing chalk was found to contribute to the release of particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 . These particles are extremely small in size, measuring only a fraction of the radius of a single human hair strand. Take a look at the following image to get a sense of just how small they are!
Particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10 pose a threat to human health. The extremely small size of these particles allows them to penetrate the human respiratory tract, where particles can then become lodged in the lungs or even enter the bloodstream (EPA, n.d.). Smaller particles such as PM2.5 have very high surface areas in comparison to their diameter, increasing their potential to carry other toxic materials on their surfaces (Xing et al., 2016). Inhalation of particulate matter even in the short-term has been shown to lead to adverse health impacts. Short-term exposures to PM2.5 and PM10 have been associated with respiratory symptoms such as bronchitis and asthma attacks (CARB, n.d.). Impacts could be worse for those with pre-existing sensitivities. Think about pre-pandemic times, before there were any SportSG regulations on session durations and when you could climb for an unlimited amount of time. With high frequencies and long climbing sessions, could this form of indoor air pollution affect climbers’ performance and health?
Unfortunately, established studies on the effects of inhaling climbing chalk have yet to be published. However, this knowledge on chalk air pollution has led to increased awareness on the importance of good ventilation systems in indoor climbing gyms. A study done by Almand-Hunter et al., 2014 compared the PM10 concentration of an indoor climbing gym with and without ventilation. The study found that by switching on the ventilation system, PM10 concentration was reduced by about 70% compared to the peak hour value with no ventilation. Installing proper ventilation systems therefore seems to provide an effective solution to this problem. However, ventilation systems are often costly to set up and maintain. Alternatively, gyms could encourage climbers to switch to liquid chalk as it has been reported to also contribute to the reduction of indoor PM10 concentration (Weinbruch et al., 2008). While there are still many questions surrounding the true effects to climbers’ health, we should still be wary of this source of pollution. I also feel that perhaps there should be stricter guidelines for indoor air quality, especially since people spend majority of their time indoors.
This post wraps up my first blog series on climbing chalk. Next, I’ll be exploring other sources and impacts of pollution from another important piece of climbing gear – shoes!
References
Almand-Hunter, B. B., Gordon, J., Masson, N., Hannigan, M. P., & Miller, S. L. (2014). Dust exposure in indoor climbing facilities. Indoor Air, 233-9.
California Air Resources Board (CARB). (n.d.). Inhalable Particulate Matter and Health (PM2.5 and PM10). Retrieved from https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/inhalable-particulate-matter-and-health#:~:text=Those%20with%20a%20diameter%20of,5).
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (n.d.). Health and Environmental Effects of Particulate Matter (PM). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/health-and-environmental-effects-particulate-matter-pm
Weinbruch, S., Dirsch, T., Ebert, M., Hofmann, H., & Kandler, K. (2008). Dust exposure in indoor climbing halls. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 10(5), 648-654.
Xing, Y. F., Xu, Y. H., Shi, M. H., & Lian, Y. X. (2016). The impact of PM2. 5 on the human respiratory system. Journal of thoracic disease, 8(1), E69.
