Pollution affecting Cyclists?
 

Didn't know if anyone saw this but figured I would post it (via TreeHugger.com)
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007...oes_pollut.php

Discuss....

One reason I hate waiting my turn in line at a light. I'd rather ride up the dashed lines and wait at the crosswalk, and breathe some fresh air.

so that bandanna on my neck has a function after all...

but truthfully, yes we are being exposed to greater amounts of pollution (and messengers are probably most at risk for this), but a healthy diet / a select few special foods and herbs (i'm thinking those asian sea vegetables that some vegans eat, and milk thistle) will do a good amount to counteract those effects. also your genetic / physiological makeup and how well your liver filters out toxins / poisons.

haha that sight is full of so much ridiculous bull****

^agreed, but there is still some good stuff here and there.

and i believe the article linked falls under the category of ridiculous bull****

no it has no purpose at all
the carbon particulates and other pollutants are MUCH to small to be filtered by a simple bandana
works great against the dust out on the trail though, partner

i was mostly being e-sarcastic, but thanks for the tip.

ughh, i HATE inhaleing car exhaust all the time. the worst is being stuck behind a truck or bus (oh, and those "hybrid"/gas-electric buses produce fumes just as much). in the winter i had my ski mask on, and (atleast in my stupid little mind) it helped filter things.

I've read (i think on bikeportland.org citing some study) was that pollution levels IN cars was higher than pollution levels on the side of the road (which is where you're probably close to biking).

Think about it, a car is very poorly ventilated. The outside, much better.

Yep, that is what I have heard also endform, a pleasant thought really.

I've read that a cyclist inhales less polution than a motorist.

1. We don't ride all day behind other cars. Most of us, anyway.
2. Our "air intakes" are 4 or 5 feet off the ground. Those of cars are much lower.

But as riders we are breathing more heavily and deeply. It seems to be that we'd be getting more into our bodies.
I know here it is ****ing really bad at times. Depends on the day though. Of course trying to avoid the main heavy traffic roads is the best idea in most cities
Doing that here is not really an option though. :(

It could stop your face from freezing on those chilly mornings I spose. I've never worn one to know though.

rt. 6 is bloody awful at evening commute time. It only gives me solace that I can cut through traffic like a razorblade while the chumps are all sitting at lights.

fold a piece of air filter fiber between a bandanna and stich it into a triangle=fashion with purpose!

Same with these masks, keeps away some dust that is about it.

Pollution on the road tends to follow a gaussian distribution. This means that the pollution levels fall away exponentially from the center of the road. Most of our cycling is done on the side of the road so we are in lower areas of polution. If you are driving on the otherhand your air intake is close to the car infront and hence sucks alot of polution and that is why you experience more pollution in a car than out of it.

People who don't ride because of pollution are just looking for an excuse and if it was not pollution it would be something else. It's a free choice.

??? you aren't secretly rush limbaugh are you?

Yea, they need a few hundred top tube pad, spoke card, and skidding threads. :rolleyes:

I am at a loss to explain how a cyclist could look at that
sight and have their first reaction be "ridiculous bull****."

I've thought about this many times, I still can't decide on who breathes in more ****.

Bikes
+There's more room for exhaust to disperse itself away from you if you're on the bike.
-Obviously I take bigger breaths riding my bike than if I were just sitting in a car.

Car
+Only so much exhaust can get in since you're in a mostly solid capsule.
-If your windows are up and you smell exhaust coming in (although exhaust comes in whether you smell it or not), you're fishbowling exhaust...open the window?

...can't decide. Quantifying either scenario versus the other has so many possibilities. This is why I hate health and science and also why I'm in both fields, I guess.