Request ID: FOI-3322-2223 Date published: 23 March 2023
You asked
The below link provides a report by the University of Cambridge which mentions the underground is polluted with metallic particles small enough to enter human bloodstream but it also says this:
“The London Underground carries five million passengers per day. Multiple studies have shown that air pollution levels on the Underground are higher than those in London more broadly, and beyond the World Health Organization’s (WHO) defined limits.”
https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/london-underground-pollution
So under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoI) which gives the public the right to request information held by TFL. I'd like to please know:
Can you please provide any report/research that has been commissioned by GLA/mayor/TFL on the pollution levels and health risk of the London Underground and the Underground vent shafts onto the streets?
The mayor is very vocal and concerned about the protection of Londoners health from pollution which has resulted in a second extension of the ULEZ zone. What measures has the GLA/mayor/TFL done to tackle this pollution on the Underground?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-3322-2223
Thank you for your request which we received on 10 March 2023, asking for information about air pollution levels and health risk on the London Underground.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy. I can confirm TfL does hold the information you require.
The information you asked for has been provided to previous requests recently and our responses are published on the transparency pages of the TfL website. You can access them via the following links;
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.
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
Eva Hextall FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
