TfL ordered to reveal how bad the air we breathe on tube is

Tube bosses are being urged to come clean about the level of harmful dust on the underground which could be affecting the health of millions of commuters.

The London Assembly is urging Transport for London (TfL) to make public the research it has so far on the levels of arsenic and chromium VI on the underground.

According to a government study last year, the levels of PM2.5 fine particulates were up to 30 times higher than the levels recorded on some of the capital’s busiest roads.

It’s being claimed that such levels could be harmful to health.

In a letter to TfL, the London Assembly’s environment committee chairwoman Caroline Russell said: ‘Why is TfL not releasing information relating to the levels of arsenic and chromium VI in the public domain?’

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has previously pledged to make cleaner air on the underground a major priority, promising to carry out more testing and cleaning as well as making more information available to commuters.

However, TfL says it is doing all it can to ‘ensure that the air on the Tube is as clean as possible.’

The group also stressed that the particulates found on the Tube were very different to those found above ground and did not have the same adverse health effects.

Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, said: ‘We are doing all we can to ensure that the air on the Tube is as clean as possible.

‘The particulates found there are very different to those found above ground, which are known to be carcinogens.

‘Those below ground are not known to have the same adverse health effects.

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‘We know that further research is needed, which is why we are funding academics to conduct studies and gain a better understanding of the health risks associated with air on the Tube.

‘We spend around £60million every year cleaning our trains, stations and tunnels, are trialling innovative new approaches to reducing dust levels, and will continue to do everything we can to keep the air as clean as possible for our staff and customers.’

Over 30 stations have previously been identified by TfL as being among the ‘dirtiest’ for levels of dust.

Among them are Finsbury Park, King’s Cross, Piccadilly Circus and Bank station.

To see a full version of the map showing PM2.5 level across underground stations, click here.