New research by Air Aware Labs says…
Air pollution in London is dangerously close to WHO guidelines, but Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) exposure falls by almost 25% at weekends compared with weekdays.
Median NO₂ exposure during runs, rides and walks drops from 32 µg/m³ on weekdays, to 24 µg/m³ on weekends.
When you exercise also matters. Workouts with the lowest exposure are around 5am (18 µg/m³), while pollution exposure peaks close to 11pm (40 µg/m³).
Traffic is the main cause of the variation in NO₂.
The findings coincide with the capital being put on a high air pollution alert during the recent hot temperatures and land just as London debates clean-air corridors, ULEZ expansion and peak-hour interventions.
In London in 2024 there were 114,000 children admitted to A&E with serious breathing problems.