Why Gym Environments Pose Unique Airborne Risks

Working out is supposed to make you healthier, but the air inside many gyms can tell a different story. Most people notice treadmills, weights, and stationary bikes when they walk in the gym, but what you can’t see – dust, VOCs, odors, and airborne microbes – can have an even bigger impact on your health.

Gyms naturally create conditions where contaminants accumulate and thrive. Heavy breathing, excess humidity, crowded classes, and limited ventilation allow particles and germs to build up. Studies show that gyms can contain higher levels of certain pollutants than other common indoor spaces, illustrating the importance of maintaining good air quality.

To reduce these threats, more gyms are turning to advanced air purification solutions like Maple Air Pür Plasma, which can remove irritants up to 15 times more effectively than ordinary air filtration systems.

Common Pollutants Found in Gyms

Gyms can quickly build up airborne pollutants because of heavy breathing, shared equipment, and crowded spaces. One gym’s testing showed the main workout area and men’s locker room had over 300 CFU/m³ of airborne organisms before treatment, levels considered unsafe.

After installing an air treatment system, those numbers dropped by more than 98%, bringing both areas below 100 CFU/m³, which is considered clean and safe. This shows why gym owners should regularly monitor and improve air quality to protect the health of their guests.

Some of the most common contaminants found in gyms include:

Dust and Particulate Matter

Dust and particulate matter becomes airborne when weights hit the floor, a treadmill belt kicks up debris, or foot traffic stirs up dust. Even if a gym looks spotless, fine particles can stay suspended in the air for hours.

“When exercising, people breathe more deeply and faster, which means more air and more pollutants enter the lungs,” Dr. Megan Conroy, a pulmonologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told U.S. News & World Report. “This can lead to coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath.”

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Many gyms rely on harsh cleaning products, rubber flooring adhesives, and off-gassing equipment, all of which release VOCs into the air. Coupled with poor ventilation, high VOC levels can cause headaches, eye irritation, or dizziness. A good air purifier not only removes VOCs from the air but also helps cut down on the need for using cleaning chemicals in the gym.

Mold Spores

Humid locker rooms, steamy showers, and damp spots around turf or mats give mold the perfect place to grow. Once it becomes airborne, spores can travel through vents and cause lingering allergies or a persistent musty smell.

Formaldehyde

Found in foam pads, synthetic flooring, and certain disinfectants, formaldehyde levels rise in enclosed spaces such as gyms. Formaldehyde can irritate your lungs and make it harder to breathe while working out.

CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide)

In a busy gym, all that heavy breathing adds up quickly, and CO₂ levels can spike. This is a clear sign that the space isn’t ventilating as efficiently as it should, which can cause stuffy air and other particles to remain in the air longer.

Bacteria & Viruses (Airborne and Surface-Based)

Sweaty equipment, shared mats, and close quarters allow for microorganisms to spread by touch and through the air. Even with regular cleaning, heavy breathing in crowded classes can release viral aerosols such as rhinovirus and influenza that remain after a workout.

Siloxane Organic Aerosols (SiOA)

Mainly released from lubricants on gym equipment, siloxane organic aerosols can accumulate indoors. Combined with aerosols produced by people while breathing and sweating, these airborne particles boost pollutant levels in gym air, which may affect your health over time.

As 2025 wraps up, gym owners are encouraged to take indoor air quality seriously to prevent these contaminants from spreading, especially through real-time CO₂ monitoring. Heading into 2026, gyms should pair better ventilation with air purification devices to reduce airborne irritants, along with simple steps like using low-emission cleaning products, managing humidity, and keeping air moving with large fans.

Airborne Infection Risks

When CO₂ and VOCs reach greater concentrations in a gym, you might notice fatigue, headaches, or a scratchy throat. Some people also feel lightheaded or have trouble focusing during workouts.

Crowded classes, shared equipment, and muggy locker rooms can also increase the risk of viral and fungal infections. Athletes who hit multiple sessions a day or spend hours in high-density spaces are exposed to more respiratory aerosols, while immunocompromised individuals may notice lingering colds, sinus infections, or other respiratory issues more easily.

Surfaces matter too. Gym equipment, mats, and lockers hold microbes that may cause infections when touched repeatedly. Touching contaminated surfaces can lead to health concerns such as: skin infections, cold and flu viruses, fungal infections, and allergic reactions.

Detecting Air Quality Issues

Monitoring is the first step to improving indoor air quality in gyms:

CO₂ sensors show how well a gym is ventilated. If the levels are high, it means there isn’t enough fresh air for everyone in the space.
PM2.5 and PM10 sensors measure airborne dust particles and other fine matter to provide insight into what’s floating in the air, while the PM1.0 sensor specifically tracks smaller particles like viruses, bacteria, and mold for more comprehensive indoor air monitoring.
VOC monitors track formaldehyde and chemical off-gassing from flooring, mats, and cleaning products.
Humidity sensors identify areas prone to mold before it becomes visible.

Practical Tips for Athletes

Choose Off-Peak Hours

Visiting the gym during less crowded times reduces your exposure to airborne pathogens and high CO₂ levels. Fewer people means less heavy breathing, sweat, and resuspended dust circulating in the air.

Wipe Down Equipment Before and After Use

Cleaning machines, mats, and weights removes surface microbes that could otherwise spread between gym-goers. Even with advanced filtration, wiping down surfaces can ensure the area is clean.

Wear Shoes in Locker Rooms

Dust, mold spores, and other microbes often get tracked from the locker rooms throughout the gym. Wearing shoes in the locker room helps limit the spread of these particles and keeps shared spaces cleaner.

Shower After Working Out

Showering following a workout removes bacteria and sweat from your skin to reduce fungal or bacterial infections. If you have open sores, skipping the gym protects both you and others from potential contamination.

Solutions to Improve Air Quality

Whether or not your gym’s air quality has been tested, installing air purification devices can reduce airborne pollutants. Many gyms rely on HEPA filters or UV-C lights, but each has limits. HEPA can’t remove gases or odors, and UV-C doesn’t treat all areas or move fast enough to treat all the air. To fully clean gym air, facilities usually need a combination of ventilation, filtration, and advanced purification technologies.

This is where Maple Air Pür Plasma™ stands out. Instead of simply trapping pollutants, its proprietary Pür Plasma technology breaks them down at the molecular level – including bacteria, viruses, VOCs, odors, and harmful gases – to keep both the air and surfaces cleaner.

Gyms across the country rely on Maple Air for healthier training environments. For example, at Penn State’s Holuba Hall, Maple Air Pür Plasma™ units reduced bioburden on the artificial turf by 90%, addressing blind sports traditional systems couldn’t reach. Gold’s Gym locations also saw noticeably cleaner air in high-traffic group fitness areas. In each case, Maple Air strengthened overall air quality and athlete safety.

From university training centers to everyday fitness clubs, Maple Air fills the gaps left by standard HVAC and filtration systems so facilities can maintain healthier, more comfortable environments.

24/7/365 reduction of viruses, bacteria, mold spores, VOCs, and odors
Ozone-free, 100% organic technology that’s safe for everyone
Quick, affordable installation with minimal maintenance
Effective at eliminating persistent gym odors and improving air freshness

Indoor Air Contaminants in Gyms: Common FAQs

How can I tell if my gym has poor air quality?

Look for odors, visible dust, mold, or signs of ventilation issues. High CO₂ readings also indicate poor air quality.

Are airborne viruses really a risk in gyms?

Yes, high-intensity exercise generates aerosols that can carry viruses like flu, RSV, or COVID. Crowded and poorly ventilated areas amplify this risk.

Can humidity control help improve the air quality at gyms?

Absolutely. Lowering humidity reduces mold and bacterial growth to keep the air safer for athletes.

Should gyms invest in real-time air quality monitoring?

Yes, CO₂, particulate, and VOC sensors give facility managers insight into problem areas and allow them to act before air quality becomes a health issue.