Commuters on public transport are exposed to ‘eight times more pollution’ than motorists

People who use public transport to commute to work are exposed to up to eight times more pollution than those who take the car, a study says.

Although motorists produce the most pollution per commuter, they are the least exposed to harmful particulate matter (PM), according to researchers at the University of Surrey.

Researchers said there is an “environmental injustice” at work whereby those who create the most pollution are the least exposed.

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The study, published in the journal Environment International, compared how commuters using cars, buses and the underground in different areas of London were exposed to a range of pollutants.

It found that commuters on some Tube lines are the most exposed to poor air quality, followed by those on buses.

Monitors worn by commuters revealed that those on the Tube were exposed to 68 micrograms of PM10, tiny particles of soot that are breathed into the lungs, compared to 8 micrograms of exposure experienced by motorists.

And if you think opening the window on the Tube lets you breathe in fresh air, think again; exposure to PM was much higher on trains with opening windows compared to newer trains that do not have them.

Above ground, bus users were exposed to higher levels of black carbon and particles than motorists.

The researchers also found areas with the lowest incomes were exposed to the highest PM levels, as people from more affluent areas tended to use cars more.

Dr Prashant Kumar, who led the study, said: “We found that there is definitely an element of environmental injustice among those commuting in London, with those who create the most pollution having the least exposure to it.

“There is an interesting trade-off of pollution exposure between different modes of transport.

“For example, commuters travelling to work on underground trains are exposed to the highest levels of large-sized particles while being exposed to the highest level of black carbon and ultrafine particles during commute in buses.

“The relatively new airtight trains with closed windows showed a significant difference to the levels of particles people are exposed to over time, suggesting that operators should consider this aspect during any upgrade of underground trains, along with the ways to improve ventilation in underground tunnels.”