3 ms·
Steel wheels on a steel track don’t have this issue.
by Gigachad 2y ago
Steel wheels on a steel track don’t have this issue.
- rootusrootus 2y agoIn the sense that they don't emit plastic particles, sure. But trains absolutely do create metal particle air pollution. I think it would be an interesting comparison, given how often our local light rail trains operate nearly empty. If it has less than about 20 people per train car it is toting around more weight per passenger than a private vehicle with just the driver.
- adrianN 2y agoSteel dust has the nice property of turning into mostly harmless metal oxides rather quickly.
- rootusrootus 2y agoIron isn’t the only metal in those wheels, some are more poisonous.
- adrianN 2y agoStainless is mostly iron and chromium, sometimes nickel. Some oxidation states of chromium are indeed toxic, but the most stable form is chromium(III), which is harmless enough that you can buy it as a supplement. Nickel also occurs naturally in soil and many foods and is not accumulating in the body. The kidneys can remove it. Only large doses are problematic.
- rootusrootus 2y agoHuh. Downvoted for mentioning a fact that has been studied in depth and is uncontroversial. You guys crack me up.
- wkirby 2y agoThis is a fair point except I live in small-town New England. You think there’s transit? There’s not even a sidewalk.