Should I run behind a bus and breathe in the exhaust? Should I train on the highway during rush hour? Is there any way to acclimate myself to pollution?

Randy Wilber, an exercise physiologist for the US Olympic Committee, has answered these questions with a resounding "No." Wilber is advising American Olympians not to arrive in Beijing until the last possible moment, the New York Times reports.

Athletes may also wear special air filtration masks every moment they are not competing. Chinese authorities have vowed the skies will be blue by the time the first Olympians arrive in Beijing, and plan to close factories and limit car traffic during the Games, but some Olympic teams aren't taking any chances. On a typical day, air pollution exceeds the World Health Organization's standard for safety by as much as five times.

One thing's for sure: the Olympics will be a welcome respite for this Beijing resident, who on some days finds herself breathless and wheezing after just running across the street!

By Jennifer Brea, About.com Guide to World News