Request ID: FOI-3043-2223 Date published: 07 March 2023
You asked
I wish to ask the following as part of a freedom of information request.
Does TFL hold information or conducted regular monitoring regarding pollution levels that are present on the London Underground? If so could you forward me the said data that you hold on pollution levels, substances detected and at what levels as per the WHO Air quality guidelines.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-3043-2223 Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 16th February 2023 asking for information about pollution on the London Underground. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. Specifically you asked: “Does TFL hold information or conducted regular monitoring regarding pollution levels that are present on the London Underground? If so could you forward me the said data that you hold on pollution levels, substances detected and at what levels as per the WHO Air quality guidelines.” I can confirm that we hold the information you require. London Underground air quality monitoring reports going back to 2005 can be found on our website via the following link: Environment reports - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk) In accordance with section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act, we are not obliged to provide you with a copy of this information as it is readily available elsewhere. Note that TfL primarily gathers this data to compare against occupational regulatory limits set by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for airborne exposures to particulates (dust). The dust is measured in respirable PM 4.3 (Particulate Matter) and inhalable fractions PM 100. More recently we have taken samples in PM 2.5 and PM 10 fractions which can be compared directly against WHO standards. We submit a number of samples for content analysis (these are in inhalable fraction) so they can be compared against HSE regulatory limits. The HSE regulatory limits for airborne exposures are detailed here: EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits (hse.gov.uk). All respirable and inhalable measurements of dust are well within HSE regulatory limits as are the measurements for specific dusts (mainly metals from track and wheel wear). If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed. Yours sincerely, David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
