The most unhealthy marathon on the planet
As a rule, a marathon is a sure way to health. But not everywhere. A few days ago, Beijing hosted probably the most unhealthy marathon on the planet, because the Chinese capital was shrouded in smog that day. The level of air pollution exceeded 400 units, while WHO considers that a level of 50 units is absolutely safe for human health. See we have the most unhealthy marathon on the planet.
(Total 13 photos)
1. The 34th Beijing International Marathon started at Tiananmen Square. Runners had to overcome the distance of 42 km 195 m and be at the finish line in the Olympic Park. (Photo: CHINA STRINGER NETWORK / REUTERS)
2. However, this year's marathon proved to be more difficult than usual due to high levels of air pollution. For some people, participation in it has become simply dangerous. (Photo: ANDY WONG / AP)
3. Many participants of the annual Beijing Marathon put on masks and respirators to somehow protect their lungs from the harmful effects of the smog that enveloped the entire city. (Photo: ANDY WONG / AP)
4. On the official blog of the marathon, which is run by the China Athletics Organization and the Beijing City Sports Bureau, the day before the event, there was a note that during the marathon there may be ... light or moderate smog. (Photo: ANDY WONG / AP)
5. However, on Sunday morning it turned out that the smog was very strong: pollution reached the highest level on the Chinese air quality rating scale. (Photo: ANDY WONG / AP)
6. City services posted a warning for children, the elderly and the sick to stay in their homes on this day, and for other residents of the capital to avoid outdoor activities. (Photo: ANDY WONG / AP)
7. However, the organizers of the marathon were not very concerned about the warnings of the city services and did not cancel the event. The participants of the marathon were asked to… take part in it taking into account their state of health. Elderly people and those who have some kind of respiratory disease were asked to refuse to participate in it. (Photo: ANDY WONG / AP)
8. But the “caring” organizers for 30,000 registered marathon participants prepared about 140,000 sponges along the entire route, with which runners could “cleanse the skin from the harmful effects of the air,” Reuters wrote. (Photo: ANDY WONG / AP)
9. According to the American embassy, which daily measures the level of air pollution from the roof of its building, running in such conditions was very dangerous for health. (Photo: ANDY WONG / AP)
10. American measurements have shown that the air contains 244 micrograms of particulate matter (highly hazardous dust) per cubic meter of air (a different air quality measurement scale is used). The World Health Organization considers a safe level to be 25 micrograms. (Photo: ANDY WONG / AP)
11. Smog has recently become a real problem in China, some scientists even call it a nuclear Chinese winter. Severe air pollution is associated with the dynamic development of the Chinese economy, whose authorities were not particularly worried about protecting the environment. (Photo: ANDY WONG / AP)
12. Growing environmental pollution has become a problem for the ruling Communist Party of China, which is under pressure from millions of citizens who are tired of breathing dangerous air. (Photo: AFP)
13. Why wasn't the marathon cancelled? According to the organizers, it would be difficult to reschedule the marathon for another date, as it is associated with a long preparation process, in addition, 46% of the participants came from all over China and other countries. Therefore, they asked all marathon runners to treat their decision with understanding. (Photo: AFP)