biostudies-literatureAubourg MANational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNIEHS NIH HHSNational Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthNIOSH CDC HHS176842https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11698221biostudies-literatureUnknown957<h4>Background</h4>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.<h4>Objectives</h4>To investigate community-identified concerns and use a community-driven approach to determine the presence/absence of coal dust on Curtis Bay surfaces.<h4>Methods</h4>Passive settled dust samples were collected from two residential areas, 345 m and 1The Science of the total environmentUse of electron microscopy to determine presence of coal dust in a neighborhood bordering an open-air coal terminal in Curtis Bay, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.PMC11698221T42 OH008428P30 ES032756Ramachandran GSpada NJKamanzi CChiou WARule AMAubourg MASanchez-Gonzalez CCHeaney CDLivi KJTSawtell GGDickerson RRfalseUse of electron microscopy to determine presence of coal dust in a neighborhood bordering an open-air coal terminal in Curtis Bay, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.<h4>Background</h4>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.<h4>Objectives</h4>To investigate community-identified concerns and use a community-driven approach to determine the presence/absence of coal dust on Curtis Bay surfaces.<h4>Methods</h4>Passive settled dust samples were collected from two residential areas, 345 m and 12024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Dec2025-04-22T09:00:06.788Z2025-04-05T22:52:58.5ZS-EPMC116982213939677910.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176842