Tube dust levels rise 60 per cent

Tube passengers are suffering from much higher levels of dust on the Underground than previously recorded, an Evening Standard investigation reveals today.

The findings emerge from a survey of London's busiest Tube stations. They show levels of harmful dust up to 60 per cent higher than figures collected last year.

And today a leading lung specialist warned this could add up to a potential "death sentence" for the three million people who travel on the Tube every day.

Dr Barry Gray, consultant in respiratory medicine at King's College Hospital, said: "A high number of particles in the air can be a death sentence because of the damage they do to the lungs. Somebody needs to look at the number of suspended particles in the Tube's air because it is potentially a very serious threat to health."

Last October, scientists from University College London found 996 micrograms of dust per cubic metre of air at Warren Street and Tottenham Court Road stations on the Northern line. That reading was almost 25 times the Government's recommended safe level, which limits average daily exposure to no more than 40 micrograms per cubic metre for each person.

But now, the Evening Standard has found the amount of dust in the Tube exceeds even further that safety recommendation. Using a high-tech, infra-red air quality measuring device, readings of up to 60 per cent more than those recorded by UCL's scientists were taken on the platforms of some of London's busiest Tube stations.

They included:

? 1,600 micrograms of dust per cubic metre of air - 40 times the recommended safety level - at Waterloo station's Bakerloo line platform

? 1,500 micrograms per cubic metre - 37.5 times the safety level - on the Victoria line platform at Victoria station

? 1,400 micrograms per cubic metre - 35 times the safety level - on the Northern line platform at King's Cross.

? 1,300 micrograms per cubic metre - 32.5 times the safety level - at Waterloo station's Northern line platform

Dr Gray, who estimates there are up to 4,000 premature deaths a year in London caused by high levels of particles in the air, added: "It is a very high level of dust. But the really damaging ones are the dust particles less than one hundredth of a millimetre in diameter - known as PM10s - for people with asthma and older people.

"We need to find out how many of these are in the air. If there are high levels it would be very serious. Levels are likely to go up as lengthy construction and maintenance work on the Tube is going to begin. It is a very worrying situation."

The tiny dust particles are especially damaging because they actually enter the lungs, where they irritate and can cause permanent lung damage and asthma attacks.

Tube modernisation, which must take place at some time in the next few years as the Government seeks to upgrade the system, is bound to result in more dust. Mayor Ken Livingstone has already said anti-dust measures must be included in the modernisation.

Scientists have also found that a 20-minute journey through central London on the Northern line has the same effect on a person's lungs as smoking a cigarette.

Professor Nick Priest of Middlesex University has even argued that there is potential for legal action against London Underground by passengers who have fallen ill.

He said: "The average exposure over 24 hours doubles among people who commute. They spend 22 hours a day surrounded by about 15 micrograms of dust per cubic metre, then spend up to two hours in more than 1,000. It is very doubtful that the Tube is a healthy place to be."

Roger Higman of Friends of the Earth described the results of the Evening Standard investigation as "alarming". He said: "If they were maintained they would be well in excess of Government health standards.

"It suggests particularly that somebody who works there every day could well be at risk. But so could normal Tube passengers."

Tube passengers at Embankment station were shocked to be told how much dust they were breathing in every time they used the system.

Zoe Shepherd, 24, an office manager from Tooting, said: "That is appalling. The Tube is just disgusting but I didn't realise it was that bad. I would much rather go on the over-land train but it's difficult from where I live."

Kate Freeman, 24, a postgraduate student, also from Tooting, said: "I hate it down there but sometimes you just don't have a choice. It's awful whether it's rush hour or not. It makes people so tense and it's bad for your health too. It's terrible, they should do something about it. Decent air conditioning would be a start."

Account administrator Ben Mooney, 28, from Kent, said: "It's pretty grim in there. Hearing that the air is in such a state makes you want to walk instead. If I could, I'd stay well away from it."

A London Underground spokeswoman said: "We did extensive research in the late 1990s and we have commissioned new research. That will be part of our programme to assess risk to protect the safety of our staff and the travelling public."

She added that any future maintenance or renovation work will be managed according to best business practices. "The necessary industrial controls will be observed," she said.