{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,6]],"date-time":"2026-04-06T21:12:43Z","timestamp":1775509963639,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,28]],"date-time":"2024-12-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1735344000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,28]],"date-time":"2024-12-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1735344000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"the National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["72033005"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["72033005"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sci Rep"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Using a unique dataset on the performance of soccer players in China (retrieved from 632 matches involving 24 teams during the 2014 to 2016 seasons), we investigate the effect of air pollution on different performance indicators that rely on different mixtures of the physical and cognitive inputs of players. To ensure a causal interpretation, we implement an instrumental variable (IV) approach using thermal inversion as the instrument for air pollution. We found that players\u2019 performance indicators, especially those more related to cognitive factors, are more strongly influenced by air pollution. One standard deviation (SD) increase in the Air Quality Index (AQI) leads to 2.5% decrease in the number of players\u2019 passes and 5.1% increase in the number of fouls. However, for performance indicators that are more related to players\u2019 physical condition, e.g., running distances, no such significant impact is identified. Overall, these findings suggest that the negative impact of short-term air pollution exposure on outdoor worker performance is mainly cognitive, which we believe could lead to important policy implications, not only for competitive sports but also across a much broader spectrum of business sectors.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-82322-w","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,27]],"date-time":"2024-12-27T22:42:55Z","timestamp":1735339375000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["The impact of transient air pollution exposure on worker performance in Chinese soccer players"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Ning","family":"Zhang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xiahai","family":"Wei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xuhui","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Pan","family":"He","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yunxiao","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hongyou","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tao","family":"Lin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xin","family":"Shi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Zhu","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Richard B.","family":"Freeman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,28]]},"reference":[{"issue":"8943","key":"82322_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(95)90173-6","volume":"345","author":"A Seaton","year":"1995","unstructured":"Seaton, A., MacNee, W., Donaldson, K. & Godden, D. Particulate air pollution and acute health effects. Lancet 345(8943), 176\u2013178 (1995).","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"issue":"4","key":"82322_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"335","DOI":"10.1089\/jam.2000.13.335","volume":"13","author":"CA Pope 3rd","year":"2000","unstructured":"Pope, C. A. 3rd. What do epidemiologic findings tell us about health effects of environmental aerosols?. J. Aerosol Med. 13(4), 335\u2013354 (2000).","journal-title":"J. Aerosol Med."},{"key":"82322_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"709","DOI":"10.1080\/10473289.2006.10464485","volume":"56","author":"CA Pope 3rd","year":"2006","unstructured":"Pope, C. A. 3rd. & Dockery, D. Critical Review-Health effects of fine particulate air pollution: Lines that connect. J. Air Waste Manag. Assoc. 56, 709\u2013742 (2006).","journal-title":"J. Air Waste Manag. Assoc."},{"key":"82322_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"376","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMsa0805646","volume":"360","author":"CA Pope 3rd","year":"2009","unstructured":"Pope, C. A. 3rd., Ezzati, M. & Dockery, D. Fine-particulate air pollution and life expectancy in the United States. N. Engl. J. Med. 360, 376\u2013386 (2009).","journal-title":"N. Engl. J. Med."},{"key":"82322_CR5","unstructured":"World Bank, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. The Cost of Air Pollution: Strengthening the Economic Case for Action. World Bank: Washington, DC, USA (2016)."},{"key":"82322_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3652","DOI":"10.1257\/aer.102.7.3652","volume":"102","author":"J Graff Zivin","year":"2012","unstructured":"Graff Zivin, J. & Neidell, M. The impact of pollution on worker productivity. Am. Econ. Rev. 102, 3652\u20133673 (2012).","journal-title":"Am. Econ. Rev."},{"key":"82322_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1257\/pol.20150085","volume":"8","author":"T Chang","year":"2016","unstructured":"Chang, T., Graff Zivin, J., Gross, T. & Neidell, M. Particulate pollution and the productivity of pear packers. Am. Econ. J. Econ. Policy 8, 141\u2013169 (2016).","journal-title":"Am. Econ. J. Econ. Policy"},{"key":"82322_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1016\/j.labeco.2017.06.002","volume":"48","author":"A Lichter","year":"2017","unstructured":"Lichter, A., Pestel, N. & Sommer, E. Productivity effects of air pollution: Evidence from professional soccer. Labour Econ. 48, 54\u201366 (2017).","journal-title":"Labour Econ."},{"key":"82322_CR9","first-page":"827","volume":"5","author":"J Archsmith","year":"2018","unstructured":"Archsmith, J., Heyes, A. & Saberian, S. Air quality and error quantity: Pollution and performance in a high-skilled, quality-focused occupation. J. Assoc. Environ. Resour. Econ. 5, 827\u2013863 (2018).","journal-title":"J. Assoc. Environ. Resour. Econ."},{"key":"82322_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1257\/app.20160436","volume":"11","author":"TY Chang","year":"2019","unstructured":"Chang, T. Y., Graff Zivin, J., Gross, T. & Neidell, M. The effect of pollution on worker productivity: Evidence from call center workers in China. Am. Econ. J. Appl. Econ. 11, 151\u2013172 (2019).","journal-title":"Am. Econ. J. Appl. Econ."},{"issue":"640","key":"82322_CR11","first-page":"3241","volume":"130","author":"S Fu","year":"2021","unstructured":"Fu, S., Viard, V. B. & Zhang, P. Air pollution and manufacturing firm productivity: Nationwide estimates for China. Econ. J. 130(640), 3241\u20133273 (2021).","journal-title":"Econ. J."},{"key":"82322_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"173","DOI":"10.1257\/app.20170286","volume":"11","author":"J He","year":"2019","unstructured":"He, J., Liu, H. & Salvo, A. Severe air pollution and labor productivity: Evidence from industrial towns in China. Am. Econ. J. Appl. Econ. 11, 173\u2013201 (2019).","journal-title":"Am. Econ. J. Appl. Econ."},{"key":"82322_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, T., Liu, H., & Salvo, A. Severe air pollution and labor productivity. IZA Discussion Papers (2015).","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.2581311"},{"key":"82322_CR14","unstructured":"Neidell, M. P. Air pollution and worker productivity. IZA World of Labor (2023)."},{"key":"82322_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"655","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-013-0055-8","volume":"43","author":"C Carling","year":"2013","unstructured":"Carling, C. Interpreting physical performance in professional soccer match-play: Should we be more pragmatic in our approach?. Sports Med. 43, 655\u2013663 (2013).","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"issue":"1","key":"82322_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2010.521945","volume":"29","author":"C Carling","year":"2011","unstructured":"Carling, C. & Dupont, G. Are declines in physical performance associated with a reduction in skill-related performance during professional soccer match-play?. J. Sports Sci. 29(1), 63\u201371 (2011).","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci."},{"issue":"3","key":"82322_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1519\/SSC.0000000000000533","volume":"42","author":"F Dolci","year":"2020","unstructured":"Dolci, F. et al. Physical and energetic demand of soccer: a brief review. Strength Condition. J. 42(3), 70\u201377 (2020).","journal-title":"Strength Condition. J."},{"key":"82322_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.1055\/s-2006-924294","volume":"28","author":"V Di Salvo","year":"2006","unstructured":"Di Salvo, V. et al. Performance characteristics according to playing position in elite soccer. Int. J. Sports Med. 28, 222\u2013227 (2006).","journal-title":"Int. J. Sports Med."},{"issue":"3","key":"82322_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"336","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2007.04.007","volume":"9","author":"RA Gordon","year":"2008","unstructured":"Gordon, R. A. Attributional style and athletic performance: Strategic optimism and defensive pessimism. Psychol. Sport Exerc. 9(3), 336\u2013350 (2008).","journal-title":"Psychol. Sport Exerc."},{"key":"82322_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"410","DOI":"10.1123\/ijsnem.19.4.410","volume":"19","author":"A Foskett","year":"2009","unstructured":"Foskett, A., Ajmol, A. & Nicholas, G. Caffeine enhances cognitive function and skill performance during simulated soccer activity. Int. J. Sport Nutr. Exerc. Metab. 19, 410\u2013423 (2009).","journal-title":"Int. J. Sport Nutr. Exerc. Metab."},{"issue":"24","key":"82322_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2338","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2016.1254809","volume":"34","author":"M Slimani","year":"2016","unstructured":"Slimani, M. et al. Do cognitive training strategies improve motor and positive psychological skills development in soccer players? Insights from a systematic review. J. Sports Sci. 34(24), 2338\u20132349 (2016).","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci."},{"issue":"2","key":"82322_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"455","DOI":"10.1080\/17470218.2016.1255236","volume":"71","author":"MJ van Maarseveen","year":"2016","unstructured":"van Maarseveen, M. J., Oudejans, R. R., Mann, D. L. & Savelsbergh, G. J. Perceptual-cognitive skill and the in situ performance of soccer players. Q. J. Exp. Psychol. 71(2), 455\u2013470 (2016).","journal-title":"Q. J. Exp. Psychol."},{"issue":"6","key":"82322_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2027","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0b013e3181887f34","volume":"22","author":"TJ Gabbett","year":"2008","unstructured":"Gabbett, T. J., Carius, J. & Mulvey, M. Does improved decision-making ability reduce the physiological demands of game-based activities in field sport athletes?. J. Strength Cond. Res. 22(6), 2027\u20132035 (2008).","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"issue":"2","key":"82322_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"170","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0838.2010.01256.x","volume":"21","author":"A Ali","year":"2011","unstructured":"Ali, A. Measuring soccer skill performance: A review. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports 21(2), 170\u2013183 (2011).","journal-title":"Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports"},{"key":"82322_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"753","DOI":"10.1177\/15270025241260031","volume":"25","author":"J Li","year":"2024","unstructured":"Li, J., Sun, S. & Ho, M. S. Immediate impacts of air pollution on the performance of football players. J. Sports Econ. 25, 753\u2013776 (2024).","journal-title":"J. Sports Econ."},{"key":"82322_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"36","DOI":"10.1257\/app.20150213","volume":"8","author":"A Ebenstein","year":"2016","unstructured":"Ebenstein, A., Victor, L. & Sefi, R. The long-run economic consequences of high-stakes examinations: Evidence from transitory variation in pollution. Am. Econ. J. Appl. Econ. 8, 36\u201335 (2016).","journal-title":"Am. Econ. J. Appl. Econ."},{"key":"82322_CR27","unstructured":"Environmental Performance Index. (2018). https:\/\/epi.envirocenter.yale.edu\/"},{"issue":"591","key":"82322_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1111\/ecoj.12273","volume":"126","author":"E Arceo","year":"2016","unstructured":"Arceo, E., Hanna, R. & Oliva, P. Does the effect of pollution on infant mortality differ between developing and developed countries? Evidence from Mexico City. Econ. J. 126(591), 257\u2013280 (2016).","journal-title":"Econ. J."},{"key":"82322_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chen, S., Oliva, P., & Zhang, P. Air pollution and mental health: evidence from China. NBER Working Paper; 24686 (2018).","DOI":"10.3386\/w24686"},{"key":"82322_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jdeveco.2022.102833","volume":"156","author":"S Chen","year":"2022","unstructured":"Chen, S., Oliva, P. & Zhang, P. The effect of air pollution on migration: Evidence from China. J. Dev. Econ. 156, 102833 (2022).","journal-title":"J. Dev. Econ."},{"key":"82322_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9780511614491.006","volume-title":"Identification and Inference for Econometric Models","author":"JH Stock","year":"2005","unstructured":"Stock, J. H. & Yogo, M. Testing for weak instruments in linear IV regression. In Identification and Inference for Econometric Models (ed. Andrews, D. W. K.) 80\u2013108 (Cambridge University Press, 2005)."},{"key":"82322_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"166","DOI":"10.1007\/s13181-011-0203-1","volume":"8","author":"JO Anderson","year":"2012","unstructured":"Anderson, J. O., Thundiyil, J. G. & Stolbach, A. Clearing the air: A review of the effects of particulate matter air pollution on human health. J. Med. Toxicol. 8, 166\u2013175 (2012).","journal-title":"J. Med. Toxicol."},{"key":"82322_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2013.05.062","volume":"463","author":"NAH Janssen","year":"2013","unstructured":"Janssen, N. A. H., Fischer, P., Marra, M., Ameling, C. & Cassee, F. R. Short-term effects of PM2.5, PM10 and PM2.5\u201310 on daily mortality in the Netherlands. Sci. Total Environ. 463, 20\u201326 (2013).","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"issue":"6","key":"82322_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"926","DOI":"10.1080\/24748668.2018.1528524","volume":"18","author":"Q Yi","year":"2018","unstructured":"Yi, Q., Jia, H., Liu, H. & G\u00f3mez, M. \u00c1. Technical demands of different playing positions in the UEFA Champions League. Int. J. Perform. Anal. Sport 18(6), 926\u2013937 (2018).","journal-title":"Int. J. Perform. Anal. Sport"},{"issue":"1","key":"82322_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0b013e31818cb278","volume":"41","author":"W Hopkins","year":"2009","unstructured":"Hopkins, W., Marshall, S., Batterham, A. & Hanin, J. Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 41(1), 3 (2009).","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."},{"issue":"2","key":"82322_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"768","DOI":"10.1093\/restud\/rdv043","volume":"83","author":"W Schlenker","year":"2016","unstructured":"Schlenker, W. & Walker, W. R. Airports, air pollution, and contemporaneous health. Rev. Econ. Stud. 83(2), 768\u2013809 (2016).","journal-title":"Rev. Econ. Stud."},{"key":"82322_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.annals.2020.103032","volume":"85","author":"N Zhang","year":"2020","unstructured":"Zhang, N., Ren, R., Zhang, Q. & Zhang, T. Air pollution and tourism development: An interplay. Ann. Tourism Res. 85, 103032 (2020).","journal-title":"Ann. Tourism Res."},{"key":"82322_CR38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jdeveco.2020.102461","volume":"145","author":"O Deschenes","year":"2020","unstructured":"Deschenes, O., Wang, H., Wang, S. & Zhang, P. The effect of air pollution on body weight and obesity: Evidence from China. J. Dev. Econ. 145, 102461 (2020).","journal-title":"J. Dev. Econ."}],"container-title":["Scientific Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-82322-w.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-82322-w","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-82322-w.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,27]],"date-time":"2024-12-27T23:57:25Z","timestamp":1735343845000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-82322-w"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,28]]},"references-count":38,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12]]}},"alternative-id":["82322"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-024-82322-w","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-4348681\/v1","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["2045-2322"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2045-2322","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,28]]},"assertion":[{"value":"30 April 2024","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"4 December 2024","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"28 December 2024","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"31093"}}