Dear TFL team I am a student doing some research into the levels of air pollution in London. I was wondering if it would be possible for you to send me the statistics for the concentrations and levels of the following pollutants on roads and in the London Underground: NO2, SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 particulates. I would be really grateful if you could help me with this information and I look forward to hearing back from you.

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Our ref: FOI-1422-1920/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 8 August 2019 asking for information about the levels of pollution in London.

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.

In regard to ambient pollution across London the following network has data from the London wide monitoring network:

http://www.londonair.org.uk/LondonAir/Default.aspx

Air pollution data can also be found on the DEFRA Website:  https://laqm.defra.gov.uk/

In regard to the London Underground network, particulate measurements are taken to assess occupational exposures and as such most measurements are taken in the respirable dust fraction (pm 4.3). The exposure groups monitored are station staff and train operators. The samples are a mix of personal and static samples. The collection methodology is through the use of a sample pump and the dust is collected on a filter paper. TfL do not routinely take measurements in Pm 2.5 or PM 10 as these are not directly comparable against occupational health and safety regulatory limits.

The most recent set of monitoring is attached (R64826) which was taken in early 2019.

The reports contain details on station dust levels and train operator exposures.

Older reports are available at the following link:  https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/environment-reports.

NO2 and SO2

These are routinely monitored in the network because they are not produced in any significant quantities. Their presence is a  background measure from ambient air drawn into the network.  However there was a one off piece of work undertaken to evaluate station staff NO2 exposures in 2018. That report is attached above .

The names of the people sampled have been removed, as required by section 40(2) of the FOI Act. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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