LOS ANGELES, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Coal trains and terminal operations add a significant amount of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution to U.S. urban areas, according to a new study by the University of California, Davis.
The study, published in the journal Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, quantifies pollution, with health and environmental justice implications for San Francisco bay area.
It found that passing trains carrying coal add on average 8 micrograms per cubic meter of air to ambient PM2.5 pollution. This amount is more than other freight or passenger trains.
It the first study of coal train particulate pollution in a U.S. urban area. It is also the first to use artificial intelligence technologies to verify that the source of air pollution detected comes from coal, according to the study.
