r/london • u/Tiny_Animator_7863 • May 27 '25
Discussion Does anyone else feel kind of suffocated on the Tube sometimes?
Not just because it's crowded—like, the air itself.
I’ve noticed that when I take the underground lines, I can’t fully breathe, or I come off the train with this gross, dusty feeling in my throat.
I know it’s probably normal with all the trains and tunnels, but curious if anyone else feels it? Or even thinks about it?
Do other people feel this too?
19
u/justpassing207 May 28 '25
Yes! When I blow my nose after being on the tube it’s all black, so much dust. I’m sure it can’t be good for us!
3
u/Killzoiker May 28 '25
It’s not good for you in the slightest. https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/london-underground-pollution
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/252000/largest-study-explores-impact-dust-tube/
2
u/ArsErratia May 28 '25
That isn't what either of those sources say.
However, it is not clear whether these particles pose a health risk.
the researchers did not look at whether these maghemite particles pose a direct health risk
the researchers stress that the findings do not provide enough evidence to establish that exposure to PM2.5 directly leads to sickness absence
there was no clear ‘exposure-response relationship’, where researchers would expect to see increasing exposure associated with an increased sickness absence. Therefore, the researchers conclude that they cannot say for certain that PM2.5 exposure is directly contributing to sickness absence among London Underground staff.
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 Jun 01 '25
nonetheless, I agree the pollution is really bad down there. I was wondering how do you cope with it? anything you do currently or wish you can do?
-1
u/Chase_Norton May 28 '25
“All that black shit up your nose is probably fine as science hasn't officially said it’s harmful to you!” — Reddit Man
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u/ArsErratia May 28 '25 edited May 28 '25
well yeah
the point of it being in your nose is that it got trapped there before reaching your lungs. Its harmless in the nose — mucus isn't alive and you just breathe it out as the mucus evaporates.
Its the stuff you don't breathe out that's the problem.
They couldn't find any health effects on drivers (who are down there all day), so unless its homeopathic dust there aren't going to be any effects on passengers.
If anything I've seen it suggested in one of the COMEAP papers that tube air is good for you, because you're not breathing in all the traffic pollution at surface-level.
1
u/pappyon May 28 '25
I agree that the papers don’t show the time is unhealthy. But why does the air feel so much thicker and stagnant and generally less healthy than above ground. I know it’s not scientific but can our senses be that wrong?
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 Jun 01 '25
your senses aren't wrong, when air quality changes, your lungs can feel that.
Air pollution underground is 30x greater than above surfaces
The particulates and dust particles that you breathe in are so detrimental for your health. It's crazy how millions of people use the tube everyday and often times stay in those conditions for hours, every day....It builds up slowly...
Was there anything that you'd do to avoid this? Or are you aware of any options at the moment?
1
1
u/GalladeEnjoyer May 28 '25
People always say this but I actually never experienced this. What lines do you use?
2
u/justpassing207 May 28 '25
I use northern or Victoria mostly
1
u/GalladeEnjoyer May 28 '25
Ngl victoria especially seems the most polluted for me. I use Jubilee and Elizabeth and if I ever have to use Victoria I can SEE the pollution in the air
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 May 31 '25
honestly thinking how many other people do this cause its a good idea!!
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u/glowmilk May 28 '25
Yes. It was even more significant when I lived outside of London for some time. I’d notice it whenever I came back. As soon as the escalator descended, I felt a shift in my breathing and would feel suffocated once getting on the tube.
2
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 May 31 '25
Wow, that’s really telling, especially that you could feel the difference that quickly, even just descending the escalator.
It’s kind of wild how easy it is to get used to something like that until you leave and come back.Out of curiosity, did it ever make you change your routine, like timing, routes, or even avoiding the Tube when you could?
1
u/glowmilk Jun 01 '25
Oh absolutely, I basically avoided going underground on the tube as much as I could lol. Living in zone 4, zone 2 would usually be my cut off point for commuting and regular socialising. Preferably, just before my main line goes underground. Whenever I have to go into central London, I’ll choose specific routes, even if it takes longer, for the sake of satisfying multiple aspects of my personal comfort. I prioritise lines that don’t go so deep under ground as my breathing tends to be worse on those lines, especially during the summer with the unbearable heat.
5
u/UnhappyScore Kensington & Chelsea May 28 '25
yes, that’s why i wear a mask :)
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 May 31 '25
That makes sense, masks can help, but I imagine wearing one in the heat and crowds isn’t the most comfortable.
Have you found a mask useful during your commute, or do you wish there was an easier way to avoid all that?2
u/UnhappyScore Kensington & Chelsea Jun 01 '25
my body already runs incredibly hot to the point I have a gym towel on my commutes from April-October. I’m used to the mask so it’s not too uncomfortable, along with the fact that the masks I use are comfortable. I also like the fact that I hide half my face and can smile at stupid shit on my phone
7
May 28 '25
yes, and if you clean our your nose with a tissue you will find it is black with soot. Its also why you should always wash your hands when you get off the tube, especially if you are going to a restaurant and planning to eat the bread with your hands.
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 Jun 01 '25
Thats so bad!!!
Is there anything that you'd do to avoid this? Or are you aware of any options at the moment?
3
u/Univeralise May 28 '25
Depends which tube line; Victoria and central, yes
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 Jun 01 '25
Out of curiosity, have you ever thought about why it feels that bad? Would you be interested in knowing more about this?
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2
u/FaithlessnessOk3730 May 28 '25
Northern line yes but it’s moreso dirty enough to make me hold my breath involuntarily. It’s not the air itself but the smell of it makes me not want to breathe it in lol
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 Jun 01 '25
Totally get that, there’s something about the smell on the Northern line that hits differently. It’s like your body just decides for you not to breathe it in.
Out of curiosity, have you ever thought about what’s actually in that air that makes it feel that bad?
if people could actually see what they were breathing down there perhaps
2
u/tomrichards8464 May 28 '25
I don't really feel it personally to the extent you do, but it's objectively true that the air quality on the deep underground sections of the Tube is abysmal, so even if your sensitivity is higher than average you're not making it up.
2
May 28 '25
It’s not just you. I live in Scotland now but come back a lot for work and to visit family. Every time I come back now, within a day of using the underground I get a chesty cough, more easily short of breath, coughing stuff up, the grey bogies etc. I’m an otherwise healthy 36 year old. I’ve just seen the FT report today on the air quality on the underground and I primarily use central/northern/Victoria so makes sense I guess.
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 Jun 01 '25
That sound horrible!! Yeah its really bad down in the Tube. Is there anything you do currently to avoid it?
1
Jun 02 '25
Honestly I’ve thought about wearing a pm 2.5 mask down there, even before covid I thought it would be a good idea. I stopped wearing them when we moved on, but it’s been getting a lot worse down there recently I guess because their budgets are so tight. I might go back to wearing a mask but a little worried about the stigma that masks wearers get now!
2
u/RojoJim May 28 '25
Someone’s looked down the length of a northern line platform and seen the black air at the end, clearly 🤣
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 Jun 01 '25
Thats crazy!!!
The particulates and dust particles that you breathe in are so detrimental for your health. It's crazy how millions of people use the tube everyday and often times stay in those conditions for hours, every day....
It builds up slowly...
Was there anything that you'd do to avoid this? Or are you aware of any options at the moment?
1
u/RojoJim Jun 01 '25
There isnt anything we can really do to stop it, short of wearing a full respirator which isnt practical at the best of times.
TfL keep promoting how they're reducing platform-level particulates, for commuters health sure but largely the staff working at platform level who get exposed to this for hours a day, too. It's still 6-8x the WHO recommended limit on Northern and Central line at platform, IIRC.
2
u/howtomakeacake May 28 '25
There was an article in the FT on this, which someone actually referenced on a reddit post yesterday: https://www.ft.com/content/6f381ad4-fef7-11e9-be59-e49b2a136b8d
The short of it is, on some lines, air pollution is about 10x recommended safe limit by WHO. This article was from 2019 so probably hasn't improved much..
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 May 31 '25
It's actually more than that now... pollution underground is 30x greater than at surface levels. The particulates and dust particles that you breathe in are so detrimental for your health. It's crazy how millions of people use the tube everyday and often times stay in those conditions for hours, every day....
It builds up slowly...
Out of curiosity, does something like this ever make you change your routine, like timing, routes, or even avoiding the Tube when you could?
1
u/theGrimm_vegan May 28 '25
I've never had a problem but a mate of mine is always banging on about it. Apparently he has a scientist friend who's monitors air quality on the underground and tells him how bad it actually is.
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u/Tiny_Animator_7863 Jun 01 '25
if you're okay with it, i would love to get into contact with the person monitoring air quality on the ground. I also study STEM related subject and this is all very interesting to me
1
u/spacemanmoses May 28 '25
It's about 15-30 times more polluted on some tube lines than on the streets outside, says Google.
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u/Tiny_Animator_7863 May 31 '25
Yeah... pollution underground is 30x greater than at surface levels. The particulates and dust particles that you breathe in are so detrimental for your health. It's crazy how millions of people use the tube everyday and often times stay in those conditions for hours, every day....
It builds up slowly...
Out of curiosity, does something like this ever make you change your routine, like timing, routes, or even avoiding the Tube when you could?
1
u/spacemanmoses Jun 01 '25
Oh 100%, like there are definitely other reasons to avoid the Northern line and Central, but I try to stick to the DLR (it's outdoors), Lizzy line (it has the plastic shield), and Overground (it's overground). I may even switch to buses and cycling.
1
u/joereadsstuff May 28 '25
This is why I try to keep it to Elizabeth and Jubilee lines.
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 Jun 01 '25
It’s cool that you stick to those lines, sounds like you’ve found what works for you.
When you made that change, did you notice any difference in how you felt: like breathing easier or less tired afterward?
Have you ever tracked or measured those kinds of changes in any way? Or is it more just a gut feeling?
1
u/flyingmantis789 May 28 '25
Air quality is at very dangerous levels of pollution on all tube lines except the Elizabeth which is new and air conditioned.
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 Jun 01 '25
Yeah, I’ve heard that too.
Have you ever made decisions based on that incorporate the lizzy line more often?
I’ve been curious how people actually respond once they know how bad it gets, or if it’s just something we kind of live with.
1
u/flawlessgems May 28 '25
I'm a tube driver and I dread to think what my lungs look like given how much black stuff I clean off me at the end of a shift. However I have to say I don't have issues breathing so much.
1
u/ZPATRMMTHEGREAT May 28 '25
Yes. It feels pretty dirty and dusty.
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 May 31 '25
Out of curiosity, does something like this ever make you change your routine, like timing, routes, or even avoiding the Tube when you could?
1
u/ZPATRMMTHEGREAT Jun 01 '25
No, not really I dislike certain lines but it doesn't matter generally because the positives outweigh the benefits.
I actually only need to use the tube for a very short amount of time in my commute. I first use the overground which is pretty good then I can use the tube which saves me 15 minutes one way.
Honestly it's a big time advantage generally so i use it.I use the hammersmithcity or district line genrally.
I do dislike certain lines like bakerloo line because they are pretty old but yeah that's really it.
1
u/TravellingAmandine May 28 '25
Yes, in the deep lines like the northern line. I can literally see the dust. I’ve started wearing a mask not bc of covid, but to protect my lungs from the dust.
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 May 31 '25
Yeah thats a super good idea!! However wearing a mask in hot and stuffy conditions its not the best experience.
Have you found a mask useful during your commute, or do you wish there was an easier way to avoid all that?The particulates are so small that it can easily penetrate your skin, let alone your mask which has bigger holes.
1
u/TravellingAmandine Jun 03 '25
I struggle with a mask + wearing glasses, so these days I just avoid taking the tube when I can. I even changed jobs to one that is fully remote just to avoid the commute on the northern line. I just don’t understand how tfl can get away with it. But yeah n95 mask + shower when I get home is the best I can do!
1
u/Desperate-Pea-7047 May 29 '25
The northern line 100000%
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 Jun 01 '25
is there anything you do or wish there was to help you cope with the pollution ?
1
u/Desperate-Pea-7047 Jun 02 '25
Honestly i just tolerate it until I can get above ground. When on the overground areas of the northern i stand by the door/ open the carriage window for ventilation
1
u/Vivid_Pink_Clouds May 29 '25
Yes, I panicked a couple of times 2 summers ago. The first time I waited on the next platform until I felt better. The second time I got off and caught a bus.
1
u/Tiny_Animator_7863 May 31 '25
When that happened, did you ever look into ways to avoid that kind of exposure - like checking certain lines, stations, or times before commuting?
1
u/Vivid_Pink_Clouds Jun 01 '25
You could keep to the district/circle or similar lines as much as possible and change to the deep lines only when necessary.
I try to avoid using those deep lines when the weather's very hot and the tube is likely to be crowded. I also try and sit near the window end of the carriage.
1
u/Imari12345 Jun 01 '25
I've been masking on the tube ever since Covid, and even in the summer I feel it helps keep some of the stuffiness and stench at bay - plus no more black nose gunk! Would recommend.
-1
May 28 '25
[deleted]
10
u/Resident-Ad4815 May 28 '25
nah, it’s common for people to end up with black mucus due to the heavy pollution, dust and smoke
1
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u/Charlotte-Doyle-18 May 28 '25
I’ve been carrying a paper fan in the summer and it’s helped a great deal… plus you look chic and your neighbors are usually very happy for the extra air as well (as long as you don’t hit them accidentally!)