Impact of Pollen Exposure on Health and Exercise Performance: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Allergy Immunology
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Pollen allergies are common and can affect individuals with active lifestyles.
• Understanding the impact of seasonal pollen on athletic health is crucial for performance optimization.
• Existing literature lacks a comprehensive summary of pollen's effects on exercise and athletic participation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the effects of pollen exposure during exercise on health and performance in athletes.
• To examine how pollen allergies influence physical activity and sport participation.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology was employed, adhering to Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and PRISMA-ScR checklist.
• Searches were conducted across major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SportDiscus) in January 2025.
• Inclusion criteria focused on primary studies reporting health or performance outcomes in exercising individuals under pollen exposure.

Main Results:

• Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, primarily involving children and young adults with allergic rhinitis or asthma.
• Seasonal pollen exposure was linked to diminished post-exercise lung function.
• Reduced sport participation, decreased perceived training capacity, and impaired quality of life were observed.

Conclusions:

• Seasonal pollen exposure poses significant challenges to athletic health and performance.
• Further research is needed to address objective performance outcomes and medication side-effects.
• Interventions may be necessary to mitigate the negative impacts of pollen allergies on athletes.