Havenga, HennoVerster, JeanSchwellnus, Martin PeterBurger, RoelofSewry, Nicola Ann2026-03-252026-03-252026Henno Havenga, Jean Verster, Martin Schwellnus, Roelof Burger & Nicola Sewry (24 Dec 2025): Beyond the 24-hour norm: PM2.5 air quality challenges at athletics events in South Africa, International Journal of Environmental Health Research, DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2025.2605164.0960-3123 (print)1369-1619 (online)10.1080/09603123.2025.2605164http://hdl.handle.net/2263/109295The health implications of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure are well documented, particularly its penetration into the respiratory tract, posing serious health risks. This prospective longitudinal study investigates PM2.5 exposure levels during athletics events in South Africa, highlighting the short-term exposure risks for athletes. PM2.5 concentrations were measured at four events across rural, central metropolitan, and industrial metropolitan settings in 2023. Results indicated significant variations in PM2.5 levels, with mean concentrations ranging from 28.6 μg/m3 in rural areas to 132.7 μg/m3 in industrial metropolitan regions, exceeding WHO 24-hour exposure recommendations. Factors such as local industries and cooking methods at event sites contributed to these elevated levels. The findings underscore the need for establishing short-term PM2.5 exposure standards for outdoor activities, where added respiratory stress from exercise could exacerbate underlying conditions; we also highlight the importance of location selection to mitigate health risks for athletes.en© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0).Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5)Air pollutionAthleticsArticle