Tube dust health risk

Fresh fears emerged today over the health effects Tube pollution is having on children.

Experts say dust levels in Underground stations can be up to 15 times those found above ground.

One claimed the pollution could damage children's lungs and bring on asthma attacks - and advised any commuter who feels short of breath on the Tube to take a bus instead.

It has also emerged that London Underground recently completed a report on the effects of Tube pollution on workers, but did not investigate the impact on commuters.

The report's author, Dr John Cherrie of the Institute of Occupational Medicine, said: "The Tube is not a safe place for young children.

It is entirely possible that going on the Underground could trigger problems."

The report found Northern line passengers are exposed to the highest level of dust on the Tube, up to 15 times above that at street level.

The Northern line was also the subject of separate research by Dr Ben Croxford, of Bartlett School, University College London.

He found Hampstead station platform registered the highest level of pollution on the line, above that recorded in central London.

Dr Roy Colville, a pollution expert at Imperial College London, said: "Over time, the effects of pollution add up. I certainly would not be comfortable taking a child on the Tube every day.

"It could really be the straw that breaks the camel's back in terms of triggering an asthma attack or, in older people, a heart attack." It is estimated that London's air pollution has caused about 1,600 premature deaths and leads to another 1,500 hospital admissions every year.

Asthma levels in children across Britain have almost trebled since 1964, with one in eight children now suffering from the condition.

Experts say pollution could be the key to the rise. An independent committee of health experts that advises the Government has recommended London Underground conduct an epidemiological study looking at the effects of Tube dust on all sections of the population.

London Underground's director of safety, Mike Strzelecki, said: "Such a study would involve a very large population for a very long time. That costs a great deal of money. We do not have that money."

He added that research on the "very small health effects for the young, old and very ill" was not cost-effective as such people do not constitute the average Tube user.

Dr Olivia Carlton, head of occupational health at London Underground, last year told the London Transport Users' Committee that no reassurance about travelling on the Tube could be given to people with asthma or other lung difficulties.

She said: "All the evidence we have leads us to believe there isn't a health risk.

"Levels of dust are well within standards required by the Health and Safety Executive and, on average, have fallen over recent years since the introduction of new train-braking technology.

"We are very aware of staff and customer concern and continue to seek the latest scientific advice.

"We are looking at ways of improving track, tunnel and station cleaning methods."