Study finds air quality variability at London Underground station

This is one of the conclusions to a study led by Surrey University, which was conducted as part of the EPSRC-funded INHALE project.

In the study, researchers found that a lack of fresh air was found in South Kensington station and that air pollution is at its worst during the evening rush hour.

Surrey's Global Centre for Clear Air Research (GCARE) collected airborne particulates on a platform at the station, which are within air quality guidelines set by the Health and Safety Executive.

The pollution collected was analysed using an electron microscope at Imperial College London to test their makeup, which detected tiny amounts of ultrafine particles, including iron, manganese and traces of chromium and toxic organic matter.

In a statement, Professor Prashant Kumar, study lead and director of GCARE, said: "More work needs to be done to understand how the metal traces in the small airborne particles impact people's health. In the meantime, we recommend that consideration is given to improving ventilation on the London Underground where possible.