These black carbon particles, which are a biproduct of burning fuel, enter your lungs and then stay there causing a ton of health problems. These health problems can range from a light cough to cancer and emphysema. It’s thought that the sizeable difference in how much cyclists inhale versus pedestrians is due to cyclists exerting more effort and therefore breathing harder and deeper. This is yet another good reason to not have sex under a freeway overpass.
The study was done by Professor Jonathan Grigg from Barts and the London School of Medicine who tested five pedestrians and five cyclists. Wait, this “study” had a sample size of 10 people? I’ve taken more samples trying to pick a gelato flavour. Let’s not sweat this too much until there’s more data, but finding a route with the least auto traffic possible can never be a bad thing.[The Atlantic]
Image: Shutterstock/Diego Cervo
Martin
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 8:35 AMI can understand where the study is coming from. For the reasons outlined in the study is exactly why I hated working in the city, apart from the CBD stench.
I have started riding to work recently as well and the car exhust fumes that I have to inhale as I get into the areas closer to the city (especially those cars that spew blue smoke) gets a bit hard on the lungs and it usually ends up with me coughing to try and get the crap out.
Sicarius123
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 8:41 AMThis is why I’ll continue to get up early, ride around the local lake, and then get in my car and drive to work.
ba!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 8:47 AMIt also just seems kind of obvious? The idea has often crossed my mind while riding to work.
Fair call on the 10 subjects.
Damion
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 9:35 AMI’m sure I read some news the other day that said that cyclist inhaled X times less pollutants than vehicle occupants in the same traffic.
car worse than bike worse than walking?
Just This Guy ...
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 12:55 PM” And you thought riding your bike was healthier. ”
Actually, no. I’ve never been under the mis-understanding that riding a pushbike in dense traffic could possibly be safer for you.
I’ve always figured that the amount of crud you inhale (especially from diesel vehicles) cannot possibly be good for you while you breath deeply and quickly.
Not to mention that a cyclist will always come off second best in any kind of collision.
Stick to bike paths or at the very least low volume back-roads. For both of these reasons.
Just This Guy ...
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 12:57 PMOh and I DO ride a pushbike. Just not to work in heavy traffic. Sorry, but that’s just silly, unless you have no other (healthier) alternative.
Another reason to hurry up with the electric cars I say.
Drew
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 1:43 PMHarden up princess, I ride 300-400 km a week. Rain or shine, I do have alternative modes of transport but you’ll be hard pressed getting me to drive to work.
Stew
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 11:57 PMLike someone smoking a pack a day saying “Whatever, I’m fiiiine!” then BOOM 15 years later with lung/throat cancer.
Hell – I’m a motorbike rider but I train into work because I know of too many fellow riders knocked off their bikes by zombie commuter drivers (also live within walking distance to train station & CBD parking is expensive).
Graeme
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 5:27 PMI used to ride along Leach Highway in Perth when I lived next to it (2 to 3 lanes each way). It was a bit of an adrenaline rush, but I felt pretty safe. The only reason I stopped was I got sick of the “ooh, that’s dangerous you know” type comments.
DarthDVD
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 4:09 PMhmmmm i wonder if this study can be applied to carparks? like what is the air quality the trolly recovery guys have to put up with?
Or traffic controlers at construction sites (buildings and road construction).
or lollypop men (persons).
Graeme
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 5:24 PMA UK study in the ’90s discovered that a regularly commuting cyclist lived on average 5 years longer than a non-cycling commuter. So they may (or may not, according to many studies designed better than the one in this article) be breathing in more muck, but this is more than outweighed by the positive effects of being active rather than sedentary.
FalseDuck
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 9:12 PM“This is yet another good reason to not have sex under a freeway overpass.”
Just kinda threw that in did you?
history
Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 6:32 AMlungs overrated