Coal – stonenot roll — is one of the dirtiest fuel sources available today, with both mining And burn it often leads to serious medical complications for those involved. Now, however, research points to another way coal can harm humans: simply transporting it.
A new study, reported by Ars Technicafound higher rates of premature death in people living near railway tracks where coal is transported. The uncovered trains allow the coal to move, crushing it to release pollutants into the air, which can have serious effects on those exposed to them. From Ars Engineering:
Trains transport nearly 70 percent of the coal shipped in the United States, leaving a trail of pollution along the way. And coal exports will have a similar impact during transit. [Study author Bart] Ostro explained that when uncovered coal trains move, coal particles are dispersed around the train tracks. PM 2.5 levels “[spread] almost a mile,” he added.
As a result, the mere passage of coal trains could impact the health of surrounding communities. Ostro is particularly concerned about how these pollutants could harm vulnerable populations living near the coal export terminal in Richmond. Previous census data has shown that people in Richmond living around the railroad have a mortality rate 10 to 50 percent higher than the county average. Communities in Oakland could also be at risk, as discussions are underway to build a new coal export terminal in the area.
The core issue here is the level of small particles, with “PM 2.5” referring to particles smaller than 2.5 microns. Those particles are even small enough to fit between the fibers of an N95 maskmaking coal dust filtration much more complicated than simply wearing masks when people go out. For a real solution, the problem needs to be tackled at its roots.
Politicians have made efforts to reduce our dependence on coal, although efforts such as carbon capture technology required at coal-fired power plants There is no mention of the dangers of mining or transporting the fuel. The effort even appears to be bipartisan, as coal enthusiasts have criticized both trumpet And Biden The White House for not ensure continuous profits for coal investors enough to fuel a dirty, outdated energy source. I guess everyone has their preferences.
