http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Pollution levels en Fri, 22 May 2026 10:17:21 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157938 Wed, 25 Jun 2014 11:54:17 +0000 i 157938@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yep, there's quite a few different <a href="http://www.scottishairquality.co.uk/air-quality/pollutants">types</a> of <a href="http://www.stateoftheair.org/2013/health-risks/health-risks-particle.html">air pollution</a>. The visible smoke would usually come under the category of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1. Big enough for light to scatter off it.</p> <p>And these particles can bypass our snot and hair defences and take up residence à la <a href="http://smokerslungs.org/smokers-lungs-pictures">smokers lungs</a>. Any <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrafine_particle">pollution</a> smaller than 100nm can bypass the alveoli and have a party in the bloodstream.</p> <p>I suppose the invisible pollution is insidious since you don't know when to hold your breath. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157933 Wed, 25 Jun 2014 11:12:27 +0000 acsimpson 157933@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Slope also helps. If you can freewheel slowly rather than push uphill I don't feel I breathe as much in.</p> <p>I don't know if there's any correlation between the big clouds of black stuff and the invisible particles which are the true nasties. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157894 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 21:53:37 +0000 i 157894@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>[lowtone] good point, rocket propulsion helps... [\lowtone] </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157893 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 21:42:11 +0000 Snowy 157893@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Depends if you have favourable wind.</em></p> <p>...which depends what the work canteen were serving at lunchtime...</p> <p>(sorry for lowering tone) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157882 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 16:56:06 +0000 i 157882@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@acsimpson, true I've experienced some nasty outliers. I think I'm still traumatised by a Glaswegian bus that smoked like this <a href="http://imgur.com/OWMDB82">Parisian bus</a>, except the clouds were an insidious black.</p> <p>I think letting the cloud disperse before breathing makes a huge difference. Depends if you have favourable wind.</p> <p>@edd1e_h I think its <a href="http://www.airqualitynews.com/2014/02/20/eu-takes-legal-action-against-uk-over-air-pollution-failure/">London and Glasgow</a> that is getting legal attention by the EU. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157841 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 12:48:07 +0000 neddie 157841@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I thought Edinburgh was about to be fined/prosecuted by the EU for regularly being in breach of pollution levels? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157817 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 11:31:37 +0000 acsimpson 157817@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@i, Glasgow buses may be worse than the average TfE bus but I wouldn't say the same for all buses in Edinburgh. I've often found myself holding my breath as a bus in front pulls away from a stop in a large cloud of dark matter.</p> <p>I'm not sure if holding your breath to let it clear offers any real benefit or if you just breath more of the residue later. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157816 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 11:24:56 +0000 I were right about that saddle 157816@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmmm....speaking as a (very) former environmental chemist it's odd that there doesn't seem to be any easily accessible real-time information on Edinburgh air quality. Nitrogen oxides and their photochemical offspring are the usual cuplrits for the choking, thumping head and foul mouth-taste we know so well. They are very easy to detect.</p> <p>For what it's worth, having just come back through the Paris basin and the Thames valley, both are beset by a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours, undoubtedly of automobile origin. Edinburgh is very lucky to be open to the sea on one side - I suspect residence times are very low compared to Glasgow. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157806 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 10:14:51 +0000 kaputnik 157806@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I can vouch for the gridlocked centre of Edinburgh between London Road, Leith Street, Princes Street and Clerk Street being of a foul, petrochemical sort of an atmosphere in this morning's still, wet environment. Horrible. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157800 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 09:49:47 +0000 crowriver 157800@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Aye, the unusual lack of wind must be having an effect on pollution at street level. The very welcome sunshine recently may be exacerbating the effects too.</p> <p>I daresay this morning's rain may have literally dampened things down a bit. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157795 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 09:24:07 +0000 i 157795@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As for your personal experience. The weather definitely makes a difference, no wind and the low air trapped below the atmospheric boundary layer. </p> <p>I hate the bus fumes in Glasgow, the they're poorly maintained compared to Edinburgh. I think there's the real effect of fumes plus an added <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocebo">nocebo</a> effect. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157791 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 09:14:05 +0000 i 157791@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I hear that the Scottish <a href="http://sepa.org.uk/air/ambient_air_quality/uk.aspx">EPA</a> are interested in individuals who would like to wear a gps air pollution monitor. I'm not sure who to ask directly but I'm going to look into it in a few months time. </p> <p><a href="http://www.scottishairquality.co.uk/">This</a> might also be useful to check too </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13039#post-157785 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 08:37:44 +0000 MeepMeep 157785@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I feel like that traffic pollution seems to have got quite bad lately. If not worse, more noticeable - like being sat right behind an old bus exhaust often. I've been getting off my bike with a horrible metallic taste in my mouth and a thick head.</p> <p>The melodramatic part of me (arguably a large part) is worried what damage it's doing to me.</p> <p>I've noticed it sporadically since the warmer weather came in and suspect the heat has exacerbated pollution that's always there but I felt that this morning was the worst it has been for a while.</p> <p>I know there's far more knowledgable people on here when it comes to environmental issues, so my question to you is "<em>am I making it up?</em>" - is pollution in Edinburgh West getting worse or should I start my own drama production to sponsor my commutes? </p>