If you're an urban cyclist, a new study reveals a dangerous side effect of this green mode of transport: you may be inhaling high levels of black soot.



The new University of London study found that urbanites who cycled to work had 2.3 times more black carbon in their lungs than pedestrians.

Black carbon is present in car exhaust fumes and is created by the combustion of fossil fuels. "Pedestrians breathe in these miniscule particles of soot, but bikers inhale even more because they are closer to the fumes and take deeper breaths," reported health website MyHealthDailyNews on the study on September 27.