Should Cyclists Worry About Air Pollution?

We are all at least slightly concerned about air pollution. How many cigarettes worth of carcinogenic diesel fumes and particles are we really breathing? For most of us the greater threat remains being hit by a car while crossing the road rather than decades breathing near it. But what about cyclists panting behind constant traffic? Do all those in masks have a reason to worry?

Fortunately, a recent study published in the British Medical Journal found cycling to work leads to an overall reduction in the risk of death. While the study covered 250,000 people across the UK many of them will have been in major cities with significant air pollution.

This suggests that cycling with or without a mask is better than taking public transport since a sedentary lifestyle is a greater risk than air pollution. Research by King’s College London and Camden Council in 2014 found cyclists and pedestrians were actually exposed to less pollution than they would have been if they had travelled by car or bus.

Another study led by Dr Marko Tainio at the University of Cambridge found similar results. “Even in Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world – with pollution levels 10 times those in London – people would need to cycle over five hours per week before the pollution risks outweigh the health benefits.” he stated.

The Concern

The health-conscious among us are no doubt tired of the regularly-quoted 2015 King’s College report into London’s air pollution that concluded 9,500 Londoners die of long-term exposure to air pollution each year. We are also fed up with hearing that you could stand up a spoon in the December 1952 “Great Smog”, which killed thousands.

But the extraordinary efforts of Theresa May’s government a few days into her snap general election campaign to try to delay the release of a plan for tackling London’s atrocious air quality until after the June 8 voting day suggests we have good reason to worry about what we are breathing right now.

The Kings College website Londonair.org.uk summarises the impact of long-term pollution exposure on individual mortality as “an average of six months off your life”. Public Health England says that air pollution is never a singular cause of death but is a contributory factor that can affect existing conditions of the lungs and heart such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma. It is also more damaging to young children and the elderly.

Consulting the Map not the Mask

A King’s College map of London’s air quality shows that the bad air in London is along an arterial network of dark lines that are busy main roads. The site says that pollution hot spots “are often quite small, and they vary depending on the weather and the time of year.”

Outside of main roads a map showing annual mean Nitrogen Dioxide levels (left) put London in a yellow haze that leant well towards the “passes annual mean objective” bracket.

That means cyclists can drastically reduce their exposure by following quieter roads with less chance of the additional risk of being hit by cars and buses.

Recreational cyclists can take comfort that large open areas such as Hyde Park are largely clear.

What about masks?

For most of us the starkest reminder of our air quality is the sight of cyclists wearing masks. However there is little consensus about how effective those masks are. The most popular masks are by Nespro. They are “a solution to inhaling the grime and dust associated with urban air quality while carrying out your daily journey” according to the firm’s website, which features a warning that it is not a respirator suitable for an industrial workplace. Most of the description focuses on comfort rather than health.

London Cyclist attempted a trial which assessed the colour of mask filters after they had been used, with lighter filters judged to have captured less pollution. But what about the pollutants we cannot see? Experts agree that solving the causes of air pollution is a more sensible approach than leaving it to individuals try to cope with the problem.

by Stewart Vickers @VickHellfire

 

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