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COMEAP statement on the report prepared by Dr Leslie Hawkins: Dust in the London Underground, a review of the health implications of exposure to tunnel dust

1. The Committee was asked to comment upon a report prepared by Dr Leslie Hawkins (Robens Centre of Occupational Health and Safety, University of Surrey). The report had been written at the request of London Underground. Members were also asked whether, in the light of Dr Hawkins’ report, they wished to update or amend their earlier statement on the possible effects of exposure to dust on London Underground. This earlier report, issued on 10 December 1998 can be accessed on the COMEAP website at the following address: www.doh.gov.uk/comeap/statementsreports/dustlu.htm

2. It was agreed that Dr Hawkins’ report had focused more on potential hazards than on actual risks to health. It was agreed that comments made in the report on the possible role of metals in generating free radicals had been overstated and that it was not currently possible to come to a clear view on the importance of this effect.

3. Members considered that it was problematic to use evidence collected by means of epidemiological studies of associations between ambient levels of air pollutants and effects on health to predict effects on health of exposure to dust on the London Underground. The differences in particle characteristics, in terms of both size distribution and chemical composition and likely differences in patterns of exposure made such comparisons subject to great uncertainty.

4. The report had laid stress on the silica content of the dust studied. Members argued that the risks of silicosis likely to be associated with such exposure to the dust as was likely amongst the travelling public were likely to be very small – if they existed at all. Members were reassured by information provided by Dr Olivia Carlton (Chief Medical Officer, London Transport). This made clear that no case of silicosis that could be attributed to exposure to tunnel dust had been recorded amongst employees of London Underground.

5. Members agreed that Dr Hawkins’ report did not cause them to update or amend their earlier statement. It was recognised that one of the earlier recommendations regarding the need for more data on the chemical composition of dust from the London Underground had, in part, been met. Members noted that they had, in their earlier statement, recommended that an epidemiological study of the effects of underground dust on health should be undertaken. Members agreed that, if this suggestion were to be taken up, workers should be studied. Workers in the London Underground will inevitably experience greater exposure to tunnel dust than will the travelling public and thus a lack of effect in this group would be reassuring to the general public.

COMEAP

June 2002

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