To preempt accusations that the automotive endproduct isn't represented by this study, I'll concede it's next to impossible to have conclusive studies on specific forms of road pollution, that is, the best one can do is find a link between (rail)cars and cancer but nothing more specific than that :)
--Until they replace rubber in wheels with something else, I guess. Meanwhile, feel free to accept the reindustrialization
About OP: I swear, there is a HN "rule": When there is any opportunity to discuss health scare conspiracy theories, someone will pop into the convo (wearing a tin foil hat, naturally) to add their two cents. It is the perfect embodiment of Brandolini's law.
> The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it.
As a counterpoint to "avoiding rubber tyred metro lines like the plague": Does this person also avoid all road tunnels or expressways underground? Since there are frequently multiple lanes in each direction, that would mean much more fine rubber particulates from car & truck tyres compared to a metro with much less frequent trains and only one track in each direction.
Care to point out a source that supports a hypothetical link between rubber wheels and lung cancer?