London prays for athletic records, rather than pollution records

London is praying that any record-breaking this summer will be on the track, rather than in the air, as experts warn that pollution levels in the city could reach their highest levels since 2006.

British scientists have warned that if the summer heat wave continues, athletes competing in the Olympics may struggle with an array of problems. The Games are set to kick off imminently, but after organisers experienced several teething problems, it now seems like air pollution is on the agenda as the biggest matter of concern.

Temperatures and levels of ozone pollution have soared in the city, meaning that the first record to be broken this summer is a World Health Organisation guideline. King's College University researchers have said that if this level of pollution persists, athletes may be severely hindered in their attempts to break records on the track.

Professor Frank Kelly, Director of King's College London's Environmental Research Group, told Reuters the athletes " won't be able to get enough oxygen in the body to perform at the highest level. What that means is they probably won't be breaking any records under these conditions.

"They're not ideal for athletics and certainly not for long distance events."

On Wednesday, two days before the Olympic ceremony takes place marking the start of the Games, the British government issued an air quality warning for ozone levels. Parts of southern England reached over 190 micrograms per cubic metre, which far surpasses the World Health Organisation guideline of 100.

Athletes are particularly vulnerable to poor air quality levels because they breathe in lots of air quickly over many hours. Indeed, even spectators may be affected by the poor air, depending on which weather system the country is treated to over the coming few weeks.

Dr Gary Fuller, a senior lecturer in air quality measurement at King's College, said: "Probably about 20 per cent of the healthy population will feel some tightening of the chest as they go about daily normal activities.

"If people are involved in any sort of exercise, they're probably going to feel even more effects."

Posted by Claire Manning