Use of electron microscopy to determine presence of coal dust in a neighborhood bordering an open-air coal terminal in Curtis Bay, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite decreasing US consumption, over 90 million metric tons of coal were exported by the US in 2023, requiring significant infrastructure for transport, handling, and storage of coal at export terminals. Residents in Curtis Bay, Baltimore, Maryland, USA live at the fenceline of an open-air coal terminal and have, for decades, reported rapid accumulation of black dust at their homes. Community-level exposure to coal dust originating from coal handling and storage terminals has remained largely unexplored.

Objectives

To investigate community-identified concerns and use a community-driven approach to determine the presence/absence of coal dust on Curtis Bay surfaces.

Methods

Passive settled dust samples were collected from two residential areas, 345 m and 1

SUBMITTER: Aubourg MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11698221 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature