EVIDENCE OF COAL DUST ON FOLIAGE FROM RAIL TRANSPORT IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA

Particulate matter and trace metals from coal dust can degrade air quality and cause health hazards. When trains carry coal in open-topped train cars, clouds of coal dust linger in the air after these trains pass by, and the coal dust then settles on surrounding surfaces. Here we collect foliage samples from three different tree species and test for evidence of coal dust pollution in Williamsburg, Virginia. Trees were sampled in close proximity to railroad tracks and compared to references over a kilometer away from the tracks. Foliage was sampled, dissolved in strong acid, and analyzed using total-reflection x-ray fluorescence (TRXRF). Additionally, images were taken to study qualitative evidence for coal pollution and black carbon content was measured. From the TRXRF analysis, there are certain trace metals that stand out as possible indicators of coal pollution, specifically iron and zinc in the pine trees. Pine trees may serve as uniquely efficient receptors of coal ash because of their surface area and longer exposure time. In the pine trees less than ten meters from the tracks, we see a 445% increase in iron and 124% in zinc. In the future, in addition to considering the impact coal pollution has on humans, the impact of coal pollution on the trees themselves can be studied, specifically if coal dust impairs leaf function. We seek to better understand the impacts of open-topped rail transport of coal on air quality near busy railroads.