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Based on the discrete event-based simulation method, this paper aims to model the Paranaguá "KM5" Railyard, looking at the inbound and outbound movement of trains and wagons from an ecologic perspective. The originality of this paper comes from the inclusion of the train parameters and ecoefficiency concerning train operation. Moreover, it helps the operator to define a range of optional strategies for wagon classification, which would be more environmentally friendly, also providing a basis for further research on this theme. This research method is quantitative, based on visits to the railyard, interviews with rail operators, the original railyard's geometrical design, real operation charge for 2016, as well as theoretical studies. The main findings are that the analysis of the simulated cases can be applied by the rail manager to the railyard's operation manual. The implication for theory and practice is that the findings can also contribute, with different parameters of decision, not only the reduction of time taken but also with consideration of the environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The train-to-yard assignment problem (TYAP) pertains to freight consolidation in a large rail transshipment yard—also called a multiple yard—that consists of two sub-yards. Inbound and outbound trains need to be assigned to one or the other sub-yard in a way that minimizes the total railcar switching costs. Each inbound and outbound train is processed in one of the two sub-yards, and time-consuming maneuvers may be necessary for railcars that are supposed to be part of an outbound train leaving from the other sub-yard. A lower number of railcar reassignments between the sub-yards reduce train dwell times and avoid train delays that affect the whole rail network. We develop a matheuristic algorithm with a learning mechanism, which we call MuSt, as well as a branch-and-bound procedure that incorporates elements of constraint propagation. We examine the performance of the developed algorithms through extensive computational experiments. Effective optimization approaches for the TYAP have high practical significance since they may reduce the number of avoidable railcar reassignments, which are resource-blocking, traffic-generating, and expensive, by about 20% compared to current practice, as we illustrate in our computational experiments. Our branch-and-bound algorithm solves problem instances for small or medium railyards in less than a minute or within several hours run time, respectively. The heuristic procedure MuSt finds optimal or nearly optimal solutions within just a couple of minutes, even for large railyards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emissions from transportation sources can impact local air quality and contribute to adverse health effects. The Kansas City Transportation and Local-Scale Air Quality Study (KC-TRAQS), conducted over a 1-year period, researched emissions source characterization in the Argentine, Turner, and Armourdale, Kansas (KS) neighborhoods and the broader southeast Kansas City, KS area. This area is characterized as a near-source environment with impacts from large railyard operations, major roadways, and commercial and industrial facilities. The spatial and meteorological effects of particulate matter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5), and black carbon (BC) pollutants on potential population exposures were evaluated at multiple sites using a combination of regulatory grade methods and instrumentation, low-cost sensors, citizen science, and mobile monitoring. The initial analysis of a subset of these data showed that mean reference grade PM2.5 concentrations (gravimetric) across all sites ranged from 7.92 to 9.34 µg/m3. Mean PM2.5 concentrations from low-cost sensors ranged from 3.30 to 5.94 µg/m3 (raw, uncorrected data). Pollution wind rose plots suggest that the sites are impacted by higher PM2.5 and BC concentrations when the winds originate near known source locations. Initial data analysis indicated that the observed PM2.5 and BC concentrations are driven by multiple air pollutant sources and meteorological effects. The KC-TRAQS overview and preliminary data analysis presented will provide a framework for forthcoming papers that will further characterize emission source attributions and estimate near-source exposures. This information will ultimately inform and clarify the extent and impact of air pollutants in the Kansas City area.

Background: San Bernardino, California, is home to the San Bernardino Railyard (SBR), a major commerce hub with high associated air-pollution, identified as an environmental justice (EJ) issue by local community and air quality agencies. Alarmingly, one elementary school is located only a few hundred yards from SBR. Methods: The school, university researchers, and a local community-based organization (CBO) established a partnership to assess potential adverse health impacts in the children and develop interventions and mitigation plans. Results: Study results comparing target school with a demographically matched school verified community concerns finding significantly poorer respiratory health in children attending school near the railyard. Partners are working with local and state collaboratives, the school board, and funding agencies to address the resulting needs of children through education, mitigation, and prevention in an environment where necessary systems changes involving the railyard are elusive. Conclusions: This paper shares lessons learned in moving toward change when addressing an EJ community’s health challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inland southern California is a region of public health concern, especially for children, given the area's perennially poor air quality and increasing sources of local pollution. One elementary school specifically is located only a few hundred yards from the San Bernardino Railyard, one of the busiest goods movement facilities in California, potentially increasing respiratory problems. Through ENRRICH (Environmental Railyard Research Impacting Community Health) Project, we assessed association of proximity to a major freight railyard on adverse respiratory health in schoolchildren. Respiratory screening was provided for children at two elementary schools: one near the railyard and a socio-demographically matched comparison school 7 miles away. Screening included testing for airway inflammation (F e), lung function (peak expiratory flow, PEF) and parent reported respiratory symptoms. Parental questionnaires collected additional information. Log-binomial and linear regression assessed associations. Children attending school near the railyard were more likely to exhibit airway obstruction with higher prevalence of abnormal PEF (<80 %): prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.59 (95 % CI 1.19-2.12). The association with inflammation was less clear. Children at the exposure school, who had lived 6 months or longer at their current address (vs. all children at that school) were more likely to have values suggesting inflammation (F e > 20 ppb) (PR = 1.44, 95 % CI 1.02-2.02) and present with a trend for increased adverse respiratory symptoms. Children attending school near the railyard were significantly more likely to display respiratory health challenges. Ideally these low-income, low resource communities should be supported to implement sustainable intervention strategies to promote an environment where children can live healthier and thrive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Anthropogenic sources of toxic elements have had serious ecological and human health impacts. Analysis of the soil samples from a brownfield within Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ, USA, showed that arsenic, chromium, lead, zinc and vanadium exist at concentrations above those considered ambient for the area. Accumulation and translocation features were characterized for the dominant plant species of four vegetative assemblages. The trees Betula populifolia and Populus deltoides were found to be accumulating Zn in leaf tissue at extremely high levels. B. populifolia, P. deltoides and Rhus copallinum accumulated Cr primarily in the root tissue. A comparison of soil metal maps and vegetative assemblage maps indicates that areas of increasing total soil metal load were dominated by successional northern hardwoods while semi-emergent marshes consisting mostly of endemic species were restricted primarily to areas of low soil metal load. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Emissions from transportation sources can impact local air quality and contribute to adverse health effects. The Kansas City Transportation and Local-Scale Air Quality Study (KC-TRAQS), conducted over a 1-year period, researched emissions source characterization in the Argentine, Turner, and Armourdale, Kansas (KS) neighborhoods and the broader southeast Kansas City, KS area. This area is characterized as a near-source environment with impacts from large railyard operations, major roadways, and commercial and industrial facilities. The spatial and meteorological effects of particulate matter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5), and black carbon (BC) pollutants on potential population exposures were evaluated at multiple sites using a combination of regulatory grade methods and instrumentation, low-cost sensors, citizen science, and mobile monitoring. The initial analysis of a subset of these data showed that mean reference grade PM2.5 concentrations (gravimetric) across all sites ranged from 7.92 to 9.34 µg/m3. Mean PM2.5 concentrations from low-cost sensors ranged from 3.30 to 5.94 µg/m3 (raw, uncorrected data). Pollution wind rose plots suggest that the sites are impacted by higher PM2.5 and BC concentrations when the winds originate near known source locations. Initial data analysis indicated that the observed PM2.5 and BC concentrations are driven by multiple air pollutant sources and meteorological effects. The KC-TRAQS overview and preliminary data analysis presented will provide a framework for forthcoming papers that will further characterize emission source attributions and estimate near-source exposures. This information will ultimately inform and clarify the extent and impact of air pollutants in the Kansas City area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Railyards are important transportation hubs, and they are often situated near populated areas with high co-located density of manufacturing, freight movement and commercial enterprises. Emissions occurring within railyards can affect nearby air quality. To better understand the air pollution levels in proximity to a major railyard, an intensive mobile air monitoring study was conducted in May 2012 around a major railyard area in Atlanta, GA, constituted of two separate facilities situated side-by-side. A total of 19 multi-hour mobile monitoring sessions took place over different times of day, days of the week, and under a variety of wind conditions. High time resolution measurements included black carbon (BC), particle number concentration (PN), particle optical extinction (EXT), oxides of nitrogen (NO, NO₂, NOy), carbon monoxide (CO), and speciated air toxics. Urban background was estimated to contribute substantially (>70%) to EXT and CO, whereas BC, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and toluene had comparably low background contributions (<30%). Mobile monitoring data were aggregated into 50 meter spatial medians by wind categories, with categories including low speed wind conditions (<0.5 m s -1 ) and, for wind speeds above that threshold, by wind direction relative to the railyard. Spatial medians of different pollutants measured had a wide range of correlation-gas-phase air toxics (benzene, toluene, acetaldehyde) had moderate correlation with each other (r = 0.46⁻0.59) and between toluene and CO (r = 0.53), but lower correlation for other pairings. PN had highest correlation with oxides of nitrogen (r = 0.55⁻0.66), followed by BC (r = 0.4), and lower correlation with other pollutants. Multivariate regression analysis on the full set of 50 m medians found BC and NO as having the strongest relationship to railyard emissions, in comparison to their respective background levels. This was indicated by an increase associated with transiting through the yard and inverse relationship with distance from the railyard; NO and BC decreased by a factor of approximately 0.5 and 0.7 over 1 km distance of the railyard boundary, respectively. Low speed, variable wind conditions were related to higher concentrations of all measured parameters.

The potential health risks for communities that surround railyards have largely been understudied. Mastery and quality of life (QoL) have been associated with self-reported health status in the general population, but few studies have explored this variable among highly vulnerable low-income groups exposed to harmful air pollutants. This study investigates the relationship between self-reported health status and correlates of Heart Disease Risk Factors (HDRF) and Respiratory Illness (RI) with mastery and QoL acting as potential protective buffers. This cross-sectional study of 684 residents residing near a Southern California railyard attempts to address this limitation. Results from three separate hierarchal linear regressions showed that those who reported being diagnosed with at least one type of HDRF and/or RI reported lower perceived health status. For those that lived further from the railyard, mastery and QoL predicted modest increases in perceived health status. Results suggest that mastery and QoL may be helpful as tools in developing interventions but should not solely be used to assess risk and health outcomes as perceived health status may not measure actual health status.

Asthma is a major health threat and leading cause of chronic morbidity among children. Air pollutants have been linked to exacerbations and promotion of initial development of asthma. Extensive research already conducted assessing adverse health impacts associated with exposure to pollutants from vehicular traffic. However, little research conducted assessing exposure to pollutants stemming from goods movement industry, such as freight railyards. This study's purpose to assess potential association between residential proximity to major freight railyards and asthma-related emergency room (ER) visits in children. This study included children ≤14 yrs. old, living within 30-mile radius of one of 18 freight railyards in California, and having utilized emergency room services between 2007 and 2009, identified through California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) database. Logistic regression modeling with all 18 railyards, and models with top 5 polluting railyards, conducted to assess for potential association between asthma related ER visit (asthma vs. non-asthma visit) and railyard residential proximity. A total 109,645 asthma related ER visits identified, majority among low income, minority populations. Within 18 railyard model, children closest to railyard (0-5 miles) were at significant increased odds (OR = 1.15, 95%CI: 1.10-1.20) for asthma related ER visit and stronger odds observed for 5 top emitting railyards (OR = 1.40, 95%CI: 1.29-1.52). Our findings indicate a strong link between asthma ER visits for children and residential proximity to railyards, especially among low-income and minority communities. There's a critical need to better understand complex health risks for individuals residing in these communities and mitigation efforts for this vulnerable population.