London Underground Study - Health Effects of Particulate Matter

Exposure to Particulate Matter on the London Underground in Healthy Subjects and Patients With Chronic Respiratory Disease

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT04614064

Enrollment

Registered

2020-11-03

Start date

2021-08-16

Completion date

2023-07-20

Last updated

2023-07-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Keywords

COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Particulate matter, London Underground

Brief summary

An average of 4.8 million journeys are made on the London Underground every day and as the 'Tube' has elevated airborne particulate matter concentrations compared to ambient air, this raises concern about the potential health impact of this environment. This study explores the health effects of particulate matter from the London Underground on patients with COPD and healthy volunteers. Patients with COPD and healthy participants will be invited to undertake a set 90 min journey on the London Underground, and on a separate occasion (3-8 weeks apart), a 90 min journey on the London Overground (as a proxy for a clean air London area while maintaining other aspects of a train journey). A series of clinical, physiological and inflammatory data will be collected before, during and after (at different time points) each of the sessions in order to compare their response in relation to exposure and/or to disease status.

Interventions

OTHERExposure to London Underground ambient particulate matter

Exposure to particulate matter on the London Underground

OTHERExposure to London air ambient particulate matter

Exposure to ambient particulate matter on the London Overground (as a proxy as a proxy for a clean air London area while maintaining other aspects of a train journey)

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

CROSSOVER

Primary purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

40 Years to 90 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

for both groups: * Give informed consent * London resident For participants with COPD: * GOLD stage 2 COPD (FEV1/FVC\<70%; 50%\>FEV1\<80% predicted), GOLD stage 3 COPD (FEV1/FVC\<70%; 30%\>FEV1\<50%) and GOLD stage 4 (FEV1/FVC\<70%;FEV1\<30%) * No history of ischaemic heart disease For healthy volunteers: * No history of ischaemic heart disease. * Normal lung function with no evidence of airflow obstruction.

Exclusion criteria

for both participants with COPD and healthy volunteers: * Those with unstable ischaemic heart disease or COPD. * Current smokers and those who are ex-smokers of \<12 months duration. * Those who work in the London Underground or are occupationally exposed to - - high levels of vehicle traffic exposure on a frequent basis. * Those who cannot walk for 30 mins. * Involvement in another research study * Those unable to give consent.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
The difference (London Underground vs control exposure) in post exposure pulse wave velocity in healthy vs COPD participants.	-2 hours, +2 hours, +5 hours, +6 hours, +24 hours	Measurement of arterial stiffness

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Other clinical responses on the London Underground vs control exposure	-2 hours, 0 hours, +45 minutes +90 minutes, +4 hours, +5 hours, +6 hours, +24 hours	Symptom questionnaire
Circulating inflammatory and oxidative responses after the exposure on the London Underground vs control exposure	-2 hours, +7 hours, +24 hours	Blood sample (IL8)

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026