Trains
The scope of the problem is centered here, as Chicago remains the busiest rail gateway in the United States and accounts for one-third of the nation's freight rail traffic. Due to the high volume of freight, Chicago's levels of locomotive pollution are greater than any city in the country. In fact, the amount of smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from locomotives in Chicago is equal to the emissions of more than 25 million cars. To read Environmental Defense's Smokestacks on Rail Report, click here.
To learn more about the different types of locomotives, click here.
Health effects
Diesel exhaust from locomotives contains more than 40 toxic air contaminants, carcinogens, ozone smog-forming compounds and fine particulate matter ("soot"). Exposure to fine particles is known to cause asthma attacks, heart attacks, lung cancer, strokes and even premature death.
In Illinois alone, it is estimated that diesel exhaust triggers more than 31,000 asthma attacks, causes more than 1,300 heart attacks and leads to approximately 875 premature deaths each year. Although diesel pollution is unhealthy for everyone, children, seniors, occupational workers and people who live with lung disease are especially at risk.
Solutions
- Cleaner fuels, such as ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, reduce "soot" pollution.
- Install anti-idling technology, such as auxiliary power units and stop/start technologies, which reduce pollution and save fuel.
- Rail companies can reduce soot emissions from their line haul or passenger trains by 50-60% simply by just meeting current EPA locomotive emission standards. Companies can also clean up their switcher engines by using either Gen-Set or diesel-electric hybrid engines. Gen-Set switcher engines can reduce smog-forming and soot pollution by up to 80% and achieve up to a 40% reduction in fuel use. To learn about an Illinois-based company that manufacturers cleaner Gen-Set engines, click here.
- Installing exhaust pollution controls, such as diesel particulate filters, can reduce soot pollution by up to 90%.
How you can help
- Call on Metra to clean up their dirty engines.
- Sign on as an endorser of our Illinois Campaign to Clean Up Diesel Pollution. Individual and organizational endorsers can fill out our endorsement form.
- Sign up for E-Advocacy to learn more about our ongoing advocacy efforts and how you can help improve the lung health of your community.
For more information, visit the Air Quality Library.
