# Coal transport: Impact on the biosphere

Dust plumes, diesel fumes and a drained aquifer

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_coal_transport/biosphere/

What this tab covers Effects on human, animal, plant, fungal and microbial life and on whole ecosystems: in the short term (construction and early years), medium term (operating life) and long term (decommissioning and legacy).

Coal transport's main local harms are dust, diesel exhaust and road traffic. In the past, slurry pipelines also drained aquifers. Its main global harm is enabling coal combustion, which is outside this tile.
 Coal dust lost per untreated car (BNSF testimony as reported) up to 645 lb over 400 miles^[13](https://kuow.org/post/coal-dust-trains-adds-pollution-new-research-finds) Coal trains rated 'super-dusters' (Columbia River Gorge study) 5.4% of coal trains, with visible plumes^[23](https://www.uwb.edu/news/2015/12/15/new-study-shows-particulates-from-coal-trains) BNSF topping agent trial 1,633 treated trains (2010); results disputed by independent analysts^[14](https://sightline.org/2014/02/20/dust-up) Black Mesa slurry water use about 1.3 billion gallons (about 4,000 acre-feet) a year from the Navajo Aquifer^[12](https://clui.org/ludb/site/black-mesa-coal-mine-and-pipeline)^[21](https://naturalresources.house.gov/UploadedFiles/MasayesvaTestimony05.24.11.pdf) Deaths per barge-related death, US freight (2001-2019) rail 26, truck 121 (all freight, not coal-specific)^[10](https://nationalwaterwaysfoundation.org/file/43/Final%202022%20NWF%20TTI%20study%20press%20release.pdf)

#### Effects over time

| Life affected | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Humans**^[23](https://www.uwb.edu/news/2015/12/15/new-study-shows-particulates-from-coal-trains)^[15](https://www.freepressjournal.in/amp/sustainability-network/mahagenco-modernises-coal-transport-with-closed-pipe-conveyor-network)^[21](https://naturalresources.house.gov/UploadedFiles/MasayesvaTestimony05.24.11.pdf) | Construction of rail lines, ports and conveyors displaces land uses | Coal dust and diesel particles near lines (PM2.5 peaks nearly 90% higher for coal trains than other freight trains in a peer-reviewed study); heavy-truck congestion and accidents in mining districts | Loss of groundwater used for drinking (Navajo Aquifer, Black Mesa) |
| **Animals**^[13](https://kuow.org/post/coal-dust-trains-adds-pollution-new-research-finds) | Little evidence of effect | Little evidence of effect beyond general rail and shipping disturbance | Little evidence of effect |
| **Plants**^[13](https://kuow.org/post/coal-dust-trains-adds-pollution-new-research-finds) | Clearing for rail loops, stockpiles and conveyor corridors | Dust deposits on vegetation near lines and stockpiles | Little evidence of effect |
| **Fungi and soil life**^[13](https://kuow.org/post/coal-dust-trains-adds-pollution-new-research-finds) | Little evidence of effect | Coal particles building up in soils near lines | Little evidence of effect |
| **Ecosystems**^[20](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2004-12-01/pdf/04-26439.pdf)^[21](https://naturalresources.house.gov/UploadedFiles/MasayesvaTestimony05.24.11.pdf) | Little evidence of effect in the sources used | Water withdrawal for slurry pipelines (about 3,100 to 4,000 acre-feet a year at Black Mesa) | Ship CO2 and black carbon add to climate change |

#### How the effects are reduced

Topping agents, covered wagons, wind fences and water sprays at stockpiles reduce dust. Enclosed pipe conveyors take trucks off rural roads. Locating power plants at the mine, or replacing coal with transmitted electricity, removes the haul altogether. Strict water licensing ended aquifer pumping for slurry. Shipping emissions fall with slower steaming and newer, more efficient ships.

#### Sources

1. [A modal comparison of domestic freight transportation effects on the general public, 2001-2019 (TTI study, press release)](https://nationalwaterwaysfoundation.org/file/43/Final%202022%20NWF%20TTI%20study%20press%20release.pdf) National Waterways Foundation (industry-commissioned), 2022
2. [Black Mesa Coal Mine and Pipeline, Arizona](https://clui.org/ludb/site/black-mesa-coal-mine-and-pipeline) Center for Land Use Interpretation, 2024
3. [Coal dust from trains adds to pollution, new research finds (reports BNSF testimony)](https://kuow.org/post/coal-dust-trains-adds-pollution-new-research-finds) KUOW, 2013
4. [Dust up (advocacy analysis of the BNSF and Union Pacific topping agent trial)](https://sightline.org/2014/02/20/dust-up) Sightline Institute, 2014
5. [MAHAGENCO modernises coal transport with closed pipe conveyor network (produced in collaboration with MAHAGENCO)](https://www.freepressjournal.in/amp/sustainability-network/mahagenco-modernises-coal-transport-with-closed-pipe-conveyor-network) Free Press Journal, 2026
6. [Environmental Impact Statement notice: Black Mesa Project, Arizona (Office of Surface Mining)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2004-12-01/pdf/04-26439.pdf) US Federal Register, 2004
7. [Testimony of Vernon Masayesva on Black Mesa groundwater, House Natural Resources Committee](https://naturalresources.house.gov/UploadedFiles/MasayesvaTestimony05.24.11.pdf) US House of Representatives, 2011
8. [New study shows particulates from coal trains (Jaffe et al., Atmospheric Pollution Research)](https://www.uwb.edu/news/2015/12/15/new-study-shows-particulates-from-coal-trains) University of Washington Bothell, 2015

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_coal_transport/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_coal_transport/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_coal_transport/correlation/index.md)
- [How it works](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_coal_transport/explain/index.md)
- [Efficiency and losses](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_coal_transport/efficiency/index.md)
- [Technology advances](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_coal_transport/advances/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_coal_transport/valuechain/index.md)
- [Geopolitics and regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_coal_transport/geopolitics/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_coal_transport/economics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_coal_transport/links/index.md)