How Your Gym is Killing You
When you go to your local gym and get a great workout in, its easy to assume that you’re being healthy and there’s no negative consequences of getting your exercise. Unfortunately at gyms, rec centers, and any other indoor fitness facilities, that is not true. Studies from the the University of Lisbon measured the concentration of air pollutants in gyms and the results were concerning. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), specifically formaldehyde , eclipsed limits. You might remember from science class that CO2 is released by humans when they exhale. Small amounts of CO2 inhalation is natural and needed, but the problem is when you are inhaling so much CO2 that it begins to replace oxygen, which happens in gyms. Its easy to see why, you’re in an enclosed area with hundreds of people breathing heavily and most of it is not being ventilated fast enough. So what are the consequences of too much CO2? The lack of oxygen speeds up your heart rate and deprives your brain and heart, which can result in short-term problems like dizziness, nausea, and fatigue, as well as long-term damage to the brain and heart. The severity of this will depend on how small your gym is, how well ventilated it is, and how many people are working out at the same time. While CO2 is something to be concerned about, it’s not near as worrisome as VOC’s.
Lets get this out of the way first, VOC’s have been linked to damage the nervous system, kidneys, liver, and worst of all, cause cancer. So now lets tackle VOC’s and their sources so you can be on the lookout for how toxic your gym may be. The first source is cleaning products. All gyms aim to be clean and protect you from harmful bacteria, and rightfully so, but in the process expose their customers to toxic chemicals. Now some gyms have anti-bacterial wipes, where if given the option, these are the safest. In comparison, some and probably most gyms have those antibacterial solutions that you either spray on the equipment or spray on a paper towel and then wipe down. I once went to a gym that used window cleaner as their cleaning spray! When people spray these solutions that contain toxic chemicals, such as triclosan and 2-butoxyethanol, it gets in the air and is inhaled by nearby people. Now think about how many people spray that in the gym multiple times per workout per day. Lets continue to add to the mixture of toxicity with some ammonia and bleach for mopping the floor! Now we can’t have the gym smell of sweat, so the facilities ventilation is often infused with scented air freshener, which contain phthalates that disrupt the endocrine system. A dysfunctional endocrine system means your hormones aren’t properly sending messages to make your body work the way its supposed to. This can cause an array of problems in reproductive health, stress and weight management, and bone health. In addition to the facility air fresheners, people who use body spray and perfumes emit the same or similar compounds. Be especially careful when using the locker rooms, I know in the male locker room there are guys who basically bathe themselves in this. Don’t worry, we are just getting started with VOC’s in the gym. Lets talk about the gym equipment. Almost all weights, mats, balance balls, and whatever else you may use are made out of some sort of plastic, whether its PVC or vinyl. The gym flooring in the weight area is constructed of synthetic rubber, often concealed with flame retardants. Its easy to smell the synthetic rubber when you walk into that area of the gym. Do you need anymore sources of VOC’s? Well if you do, look no further then the occasional new carpet and paint job your gym is completing, while you workout. Okay, so I think we can all agree that this is not the environment where you should be breathing and inhaling deeply. Despite all the benefits you’re getting from exercise, you’re also putting yourself at a huge risk for other health problems.
Air pollution is for certain the the top concern with the typical gym environment, but hear me out on another source, noise pollution. You know every-time that meat-head doing dead-lifts slams the barbell on the ground and it echos through the entire gym? Or in your fitness class, the music blares so loud that you feel deaf when you walk out. Or even the people on the machines who let the weights clang together rep after rep. All of this is noise pollution. You may think that noise pollution only has minimal effects on hearing and there is no other cause for concern, but that’s far from the truth. Lets take the meat-head dead-lift example. The decibel level of this sudden noise reaches well over 100dB, and sometimes between 120-140dB. Now consider that any decibel level over 85dB is considered harmful and can cause hearing loss. Even one brief exposure to a sound this loud is harmful, even if its not immediately noticeable. Over time, if you are being exposed to sounds this loud day after day, the damage will accumulate to where your hearing has significantly deteriorated. As I said, noise pollution doesn’t only cause issues with our hearing. Loud noises cause spikes in blood pressure and heart rate, which in turn can lead to cardiovascular disease. Concentration is lost and constant exposure can cause cognitive impairment. Now I know a lot of you are saying “well I just wear headphones and play music anyway”. Truth is, if you are playing music loud enough to block out all the other gym noises, the music is causing damage as well. A good solution is noise cancelling headphones with low volume music or earplugs, but the best solution is the sound of nature.
By now you are probably thinking its not a good idea to ever step foot in a gym again, and while you are exposed to significant risk, the risk of not exercising at all is greater. I’m not saying to never go to the gym again, I still do on occasion when the weather is bad or its dark before I can get time to workout. In fact, I still train some clients indoors at health clubs. I think its important to realize these health consequences and take action to exercise in the healthiest environment possible, and if your on this site then you already know where that is. See you in nature!