Tunnels are 1,000 times more polluted than open roads
August 28th, 2009 - 2:12 pm ICT by IANSSydney, Aug 28 (IANS) A dangerous cocktail of ultra fine particles, lurking inside tunnels, makes them up to 1,000 more polluted than open roads, says a new study.
“The results show that, at times, the (pollution) levels (in tunnels) are up to 1,000 times higher than in urban ambient conditions,” said Lidia Morawska, study co-author and professor at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
Accordingly, the maximum exposure to dangerous ultra fine particles, besides other pollutants, takes place in tunnels, said Morawska, director of QUT International Lab for Air Quality and Health.
“Effects can range from minor respiratory problems in healthy people, to acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) in people with existing heart complaints,” she added.
Morawska said the study involved more than 300 trips through the four km M5 East tunnel in Sydney, with journeys lasting up to 26 minutes, depending on traffic congestion.
She said drivers and occupants of new vehicles which had their windows closed were safer than people travelling in older vehicles.
“People who are driving older vehicles which are inferior in terms of tightness and also those riding motorcycles or driving convertibles, these people are exposed to incredibly high concentrations,” she said.
“When compared with similar studies reported previously, the measurements here were among the highest recorded concentrations,” she said.
Morawska said tunnels were becoming an increasingly necessary infrastructure component in many cities across the world.
These findings were published in Atmospheric Environment.
- 'Toxic cocktail' in tunnels can increase air pollution levels by up to 1,000 times - Aug 28, 2009
- Older vacuum cleaners pollute indoor air - Jan 05, 2012
- Classrooms may be more polluted than outdoors - Dec 25, 2009
- School classroom air 'more polluted' than outdoor air - Dec 23, 2009
- Does air pollution erode mental sharpness? - Feb 14, 2012
- Colder weather 'increases heart attack risk' - Aug 11, 2010
- Ultrafine particles from laser printers harmful to health - Feb 12, 2009
- Delhi air quality was worst in March: Study - Apr 02, 2012
- School classrooms 'more polluted than outdoors' - Jan 21, 2010
- Electric cars cause more pollution than petrol ones: Study - Feb 14, 2012
- Oz boffins identify dangerous printer particles - Feb 12, 2009
- Exposure to air pollution linked to reduced heart rate variability - Jul 10, 2010
- High and low dose aspirin can protect heart - Mar 27, 2012
- Platelet-rich plasma 'a promising treatment for heart attacks' - Jan 18, 2011
- Anxiety, depression accounts for risky driving - May 18, 2011
Tags: acute myocardial infarction, ambient conditions, atmospheric environment, co author, dangerous cocktail, health effects, heart attack, infrastructure component, journeys, maximum exposure, myocardial infarction, necessary infrastructure, new vehicles, open roads, pollution levels, queensland university of technology, qut, respiratory problems, traffic congestion, ultra fine particles