Cyclists at greater risk of damage to lungs

Research presented at the European Respiratory Society’s annual congress in Amsterdam suggests that cyclists inhale more black carbon than pedestrians, which may cause damage to the lungs.

The combustion of fossil fuels results in the generation of large numbers of inhalable particles of soot.

The findings come amid increasing evidence that inhalation of black carbon particles is linked with a wide range of damaging outcomes including heart attacks and reduced lung function.

The researchers, led by Prof Jonathan Grigg from Barts and the London School of Medicine in London, aimed to identify whether the way healthy adults commute to work affects their exposure to black carbon.

They compared the lung dose of black carbon in cyclists and pedestrians comparing the

The researchers collected samples from five adults who regularly cycled to work in London and five pedestrians and analysed the amount of black carbon found in their airways.

The results showed that cyclists had more than twice the levels of black carbon in their lungs when compared with pedestrians.

Chinedu Nwokoro, one of the researchers of the study and an active cyclist, said: “The results of this study have shown that cycling in a large European city increases exposure to black carbon.

“This could be due to a number of factors including the fact that cyclists breathe more deeply and at a quicker rate than pedestrians while in closer proximity to exhaust fumes, which could increase the number of airborne particles penetrating the lungs.

“Our data strongly suggest that personal exposure to black carbon should be considered when planning cycling routes.”

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can have a devastating personal and financial impact on younger sufferers from the illness, a study published at the congress has revealed.

One in five of sufferers aged 45-65 surveyed said they were a burden to their family or friends, half were embarrassed by their cough, a common symptom, and more than a third said their income had fallen.

Increasing numbers of younger sufferers are being diagnosed with the illness which is common in parts of Yorkshire due to the region’s industrial legacy.