A new Canadian study should be of interest to any urban cyclist concerned about his/her health. The study shows what is apparent to most cyclists already - smoking tailpipes, especially from diesel trucks and buses, can have serious health impacts.
The Chronicle provides a San Francisco-based article on the study "published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives ( that) shows a link between biking in heavy traffic and heart health risks, with cyclists having heart irregularities in the hours after their exposure to a variety of air pollutants on busy roads."
"The study by scientists from Health Canada, Environment Canada and the University of Ottawa does not suggest that bikers would be better off driving." However, they do offer "a simple solution: Avoid busy streets."
The study could also encourage cyclists to join clean air advocates in pushing state environmental agencies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to get older diesel trucks retrofitted and eventually replaced with newer models. For example, see Opinion: Support for clean diesel -- it's not an oxymoron -- must continue.
For a NYC-based article on the study, see Environmental Health News: "Exhaust-ing ride for cyclists: Air pollutants trigger heart risk".
Thanks to One Bay Area News Update
Read the full story: Biking on busy streets linked to heart risks
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