Is there any information on the source of these iron particles?<p>I know brake dust is iron-rich, but I find it hard to believe there is enough brake dust in the world to have a serious impact.<p>Most other machines aim not to create iron dust (that would be a sign the machine is wearing out), and new harder bearing surfaces should produce practically zero particulates.<p>Are there perhaps small amounts of iron in coal?
> Now, the new study would seem to suggest that humans may already be engaging in a kind of inadvertent iron fertilization campaign. But whether it’s having any significant effect on marine ecosystems or carbon storage is still unknown.<p>But, since we know we're increasing atmospheric carbon, we do know that any increased carbon storage stemming from this accidental fertilization effect is dwarfed by our carbon output elsewhere, right? To the degree that carbon and aerosol iron are released from an overlapping set of activities, perhaps this study reveals a modest change in the coefficient relating emitted carbon to atmospheric carbon.
Most technologies have some side-effects. Burning hydrocarbons for energy, social media networks, antibiotics, you name it.<p>While we reap the rewards, we also need to keep innovating to counter-act the side-effects. The worrying thing is only that it happens on a planetary scale now. So there is less room for error and no backup (for now).
With all the recent articles about sand running out (from rivers), microplastics, global warming, bugs dying... it sounds like we're screwing the earth big time. While I'm not the person who cares enough to completely change my life style, I'm getting worried.
I wonder whether this is just me, I hope not, but then again it also feels like the industry in general still doesn't care enough.