tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post1497872460571334928..comments2023-10-08T08:33:55.549-04:00Comments on Unsuck DC Metro: Smoke BrakeUnsuck DC Metrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02752056661298716293noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-64299005817721592402009-07-31T11:58:30.476-04:002009-07-31T11:58:30.476-04:00What is that acrid smell that is apparenly associa...What is that acrid smell that is apparenly associated with the brakes? I believe that brake pads contain asbestos. Are we breathing asbestos fibers or other unhealthy materials?<br /><br />Also, I am told that electrical arcing and other odor-creating Metro activities may release particulate matter, most notable PM2.5, You know, the really small stuff that wedges in the lungs and causes cancer. <br /><br />I would like to see some air quality sampling conducted along metro platforms, particulary as odor-emitting trains arrive and depart.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8689506078297112665.post-39399415630844834732009-07-31T09:30:12.437-04:002009-07-31T09:30:12.437-04:00I think you're forgetting a key factor in the ...I think you're forgetting a key factor in the brake issue: one of the reasons the metro trains have used computerized braking was to prevent excessive wear on the brakes. Since the June accident, the drivers have been manually braking again. While correlation doesn't always equal causation, I would be very shocked if the manual braking didn't have something to do with the problems. Wikipedia has an interesting article talking about the computerized brake system in its analysis of some of the past metro accidents.RunLovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13918076034815751843noreply@blogger.com