Pollution levels on Oxford Street have been found to have a measurable cardio-respiratory effect on a person after just 2 hours exposure.

Pollution levels on Oxford Street have been found to have a measurable cardio-respiratory effect on a person after just 2 hours exposure.  Dr Rudy Sinharay of The National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) presented his findings on the effects of diesel emissions on cardio-respiratory function at the British Thoracic Society’s winter meeting 2014.

The study compared the effect of high pollution levels on Oxford Street on both healthy and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) patients by looking at changes in lung function and cardiovascular responses.  Volunteers from each sample group were exposed to two hours of fumes on Oxford Street and, at another time, to two hours of the relatively less polluted air in Hyde Park.  Each time cardio-respiratory measurements were taken before, during and after the exposure.

Exposure on Oxford Street gave higher levels of black carbon, nitrogen dioxide and ultrafine particle counts.  Airways obstruction occurred in both healthy and COPD patients exposed to average levels of diesel pollution on Oxford Street.  There was a greater vascular dysfunction effect in COPD patients.  Further research is required to work out the underlying mechanisms behind these findings.

The study was funded by the British Heart Foundation.