The study is likely to involve hundreds of athletes and was announced on World Asthma Day by the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network, an EU-funded research network.

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"The pan-European study will allow scientists to specify the prevalence of asthma, exercise induced asthma and other allergic diseases among European athletes qualified for the Beijing Olympics," a statement from the Brussels-based group said.

Participating countries are Britain, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Spain. British asthma expert Peter Burney said the study would look at the effects of peak exertion as well as the polluted atmosphere in the Chinese capital.

Asthma rates high in athletes
"What we hope to do is follow the athletes with a questionnaire - before they go and a little bit afterward - and ... look at the relationship between activity at the Olympics and previous health, and the outcome," Burney said.

Asthma rates are higher among athletes than in the general population. "If you exert yourself a lot, you're more susceptible to the environment at that time because you're breathing in a lot more air," Burney said. "It does seem to be high in athletes, particularly in distance athletes and in endurance sports."

Burney, who is involved in the British part of the study, said details of methods that will be used remain to be worked out. He said he did not believe pollution in Beijing would cause athletes serious problems.

"I don't think that will happen. I think they'll be well looked after," he said. The study is being coordinated in Norway by professor Kai-Hakon Carlsen from the Voksentoppen Children's Asthma and Allergy Centre in Oslo. – (Sapa)

May 2008

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