Research progress in the impact and mechanisms of air pollution on children and adolescents′ participation in outdoor physical activities: a review

Air pollution is a key factor influencing the participation of children and adolescents in outdoor physical activities. A systematic review of relevant studies in recent years is conducted to comprehensively analyze the impact of air pollution on the participation of children and adolescents in outdoor physical activities and its neurobiological and psychological mechanisms from the dimensions of pollution exposure effects, parents′ risk perception, dose-response relationships, and socioeconomic regulation. The results show that physical activities are a core approach to promoting the motor development, cardiopulmonary fitness, and neural plasticity of children and adolescents. However, exposure to high concentrations of air pollutants (such as PM_2.5 and O₃) not only weakens the health benefits of exercise by inducing oxidative stress and systemic inflammation but also may induce neuroinflammation by inhibiting the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), thereby exerting antagonistic effects on the neuro-psychological development and motor skill acquisition of children and adolescents. On this basis, protective strategies are proposed from aspects such as indoor environment optimization, dynamic adjustment of exercise time and intensity, and nutritional behavior intervention, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the participation of children and adolescents in outdoor physical activities and the promotion of their physical and mental health in the context of air pollution.