§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been carried out by her Department into air pollution within the London underground system and its effects on the health of London Underground staff and passengers; and if she will place a copy of the research in the Library. [69347]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government's Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) is currently considering the findings of a recent review of the existing evidence on the possible health impacts of exposure to dust within the London underground. The review, "Dust in the London Underground: a review of the health implications of exposure to tunnel dust", which was carried out on behalf of London Underground Ltd. (LUL), considers the extent to which London Underground staff and passengers are exposed to dust, and the possible health impacts. Copies are available from the London Underground website at: http://www.thetube.com/content/pressreleases/0110/31.asp#dust.
COMEAP are expected to comment on the review shortly, and their comments will be available via their website (www.doh.gov.uk/comeap) in due course.
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which pollutants are monitored within the London underground system; and what the recorded levels of each were in the last five years. [69346]
§ Mr. MeacherLondon Underground Ltd. monitors levels of a number of pollutants in the underground system to ensure that the exposure limits prescribed in health and safety legislation are adhered to. The results of this monitoring are not held centrally, but are summarised together with an analysis of the possible health impacts in a recent review carried out on behalf of London Underground Ltd: "Dust in the London Underground: a review of the health implications of exposure to tunnel dust". Copies of this review are available via the London Underground website at: http://www.thetube.com/content/pressreleases/0110/31.asp#dust'
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who has responsibility for monitoring air quality within the London Underground system; and what controls are in place to ensure air quality in the London Underground system adheres to national standards. [69348]
§ Mr. MeacherAir quality in the London Underground system is required to meet occupational exposure limits as required by Health and Safety legislation. Guidance notes, issued under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, prescribe maximum occupational exposure limits for a variety of pollutants, including all of the pollutants covered by the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, published in January 2000. Details of the limits for each pollutant are available from the Health and Safety Executive. London
479WUnderground Limited (LUL) are responsible for ensuring that these limits are adhered to. LUL are in the process of developing an air quality monitoring standard, which would set out the monitoring arrangements and requirements in the Underground system. To date, all monitoring carried out during operational hours has indicated that levels of all pollutants are below the prescribed occupational exposure limits.