NIOSH Data Confirms That Black Lung Disease Has Grown in Recent Years Due to Silica Dust

     Mining coal kills. It does so slowly, through black lung disease, or Pneumoconiosis. Data for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), accepted for publication in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, indicates that Black Lung is on the rise again.

“NIOSH researchers found that working veteran underground coal miners in central Appalachia are suffering from the incurable and fatal lung disease at the highest rates in nearly 50 years.”

     Coal miners in Central Appalachia, in the states of Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia, have been most affected by the disease’s reprisal. About one third of the miners in those states with 25 years of mining experience have the disease. More miners with 15 years of mining experience are getting the disease.

     According to NPR, which has covered black lung disease for a long time, including with in-depth reporting from relevant state affiliates:

"I'm disgusted," said Scott Laney, a NIOSH research epidemiologist who is the lead author of the research letter.

"This is not going to get better because of all the disease that's already in the pipeline. These guys are being treated like disposable widgets, not human beings. … We're watching them die right before our eyes."

“More than 1,700 coal miners died from black lung from 2020 through 2023, according to an earlier NIOSH study.”

“The new findings "should stagger and shock anyone who has compassion for … hardworking people," said Celeste Monforton, a former federal mine-safety regulator and a workplace-safety academic and advocate.”

"This is the consequence of their work and the consequence of us wanting cheap electricity," Monforton added. "We're back where we were [nearly 50 years ago]. … Coal miners are no better off than they were [then]."

     Apparently, modern dust control methods and regulations have not slowed the disease as hoped.

“The new estimated rate for the veteran central Appalachian underground miners is more than a fourfold increase since the prevalence of the disease hit a low point: just 7%, in 1999. That was 30 years after Congress imposed strict limits on exposure to the coal mine dust that causes black lung.”

“Since then, the dramatic plunge has reversed, especially in Appalachia, where thousands of miners are suffering from early, advanced and fatal stages of disease, according to data gathered from clinics testing and treating miners. Unlike NIOSH, which focuses on working miners, the clinics tend to see retired and laid-off miners who seek lung exams while trying to obtain state or federal black lung benefits.”

     NIOSH emphasizes that silica dust is a factor in these new disease cases as well. The practice of “cutting rock,” or cutting through sandstone and siltstone with high silica content with mining machines in order to reach thinner coal seams, is very likely increasing disease rates.

 "Excessive inhalation of coal mine dust is the sole cause of [black lung] in coal miners," the new NIOSH research letter says. "Substantial evidence shows that exposure to the respirable crystalline silica component of coal mine dust plays an important role in contemporary disease patterns."

“Laney, the NIOSH epidemiologist, said the link between silica dust and black lung disease is strong, based on exposure data and radiographic data, which shows abnormalities "suggestive of silica exposure." And he said researchers have inspected lungs removed in autopsies and after transplantation and "we can see the silica in these lungs."

     However, the National Mining Association (NMA) noted:

“…the rates of disease reported by NIOSH in miners tested in the last five years — along with the new cases diagnosed at clinics — do not stem from current silica dust exposures in coal mines because it can take years for disease to develop and for disease to be diagnosed.”

"This means that the incidences discussed in these studies cover miners whose initial exposure dates back years and, in many cases, decades," Ashley Burke, a spokeswoman for NMA, wrote in an emailed statement. "These incidences do not reflect the conditions, practices, protections or regulations that are in place today."

     While silica dust has long been a part of coal mine dust, its level relative to coal dust has been increasing as more rock is cut through to reach thinner coal seams.

“Silica dust is 20 times more toxic than coal dust alone and contains fine particles that are easily inhaled. Silica particles cause lungs to fight back with fibrotic tissue that builds and builds, severely inhibiting the ability to breathe.”

     While it is good news that compliance rates for mine dust have grown, reaching 97% compliance recently, that may not be enough.

     In 2024, the Biden administration adopted new rules for silica dust in coal mines, cutting the exposure limit by half. The mining industry sued. They were ok with the limits but not the enforcement mechanisms, such as fines and higher dust restrictions for those out of compliance. The lawsuits put enforcement on hold, and the Trump administration endorsed keeping it on hold.

     Dust masks and respirators are an important way to mitigate exposure, but there are issues with them.

“Dust masks and respirators have also been problematic. Many miners interviewed by NPR complained that masks impair communication in a dangerous and noisy environment, become clogged with dust, are too hot to work in, and fail to screen out finer particles. Lawsuits against dust-mask companies have resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements.”

     According to the NIOSH report:

“Excessive inhalation of coal mine dust is the sole cause of CWP in coal miners. Substantial evidence indicates that exposure to the respirable crystalline silica component of coal mine dust plays an important role in contemporary disease patterns, particularly in central Appalachia. These observations contributed to 2024 rulemaking by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to reduce occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. A recent MSHA Program Information Bulletin notes that in accordance with a federal court order issued April 11, 2025, MSHA has delayed enforcement of the 2024 Silica Rule and instead is enforcing standards that were in place before its changes were to take effect. Pending the outcome of litigation, it is uncertain whether or when the 2024 Silica Rule will be implemented. What is certain is that the prevalence of pneumoconiosis among coal workers participating in CWHSP has reached its highest level in the past 35 years.”

     Below, the article addresses funding for black lung treatment.

“The growing rate of disease has resulted in a steady stream of miners seeking state and federal benefits for living and medical expenses. More than 26,000 miners or their surviving dependents drew $175 million from a federal black lung trust fund in 2024, according to a Labor Department report to Congress.”

“Mining companies contributed more than $23 billion to the fund, according to NMA, but bankruptcies and underinsurance shift some of the burden to taxpayers. The fund owes more than $6.5 billion to the U.S. Treasury.”

“Public funds pay for most of a growing number of lung transplants, which cost as much as $2 million each, and are mostly for miners in central Appalachia, according to a NIOSH study.”

 

 

References:

 

Black lung rates in Appalachia are high as the 1970s, with thousands of miners sick. Howard Berkes and Justin Hicks. Morning Edition. NPR. August 5, 2026. Appalachia's black lung rates are highest in nearly 50 years : NPR

Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis in the United States 1974—2025: Prevalence in Central Appalachia Continues to Increase. A Scott Laney, PhD , Nirmala T Myers, PhD , Laura E Reynolds, RN , David J Blackley, DrPH , and Noemi B Hall, PhD. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. August 4, 2026. Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis in the United States 1974—2025: Prevalence in Central Appalachia Continues to Increase | American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine | Oxford Academic

Textile Dyeing: Its Huge Energy and Carbon Footprints and How to Make it Sustainable: EverDye’s Non-Petroleum, Non-Toxic Alternative

      Textile dyeing is one of fashion’s biggest sustainability challenges. Conventional dyeing relies on chemical processes that require large amounts of energy and water. Most dyes are derived from petrochemicals. According to company EverDye, which is working on sustainable textile dyeing, textile dyeing is responsible for about half of the fashion industry’s emissions, which in total make up 8-10% of global carbon emissions, and dyeing makes up half of those emissions, or 4-5% of global emissions. I found that to be surprising. They also note that the textile industry is the world’s second-biggest polluter of water and generates 20% of global wastewater. Thus, if one could make textile dyeing more sustainable, less energy-intensive, and mitigate wastewater better, it could be hugely impactful.

     EverDye’s CEO Philippe Berlan noted that the company does not use petrochemical-based dyes. Instead, it uses biopolymers and iron oxide to create what he describes as a hybrid molecule. According to Interesting Engineering:

“The resulting dye is designed to bond with fibres through a physical attraction rather than the conventional chemical-intensive process used today. As Berlan explained, the process takes advantage of charges already present on prepared textile fibres.”

“There is a kind of magnet effect, and this magnetic effect creates a great affinity of our dye stuff to jump on the fibre,” he said.

     The process happens at room temperature. No heat is required, as in petrochemical dyeing. With no need for heat and additional chemical processing, he says the process can eliminate up to 90% of carbon emissions. He also says the process can reduce water consumption by 30% and it produces wastewater that is non-toxic. This is important since wastewater from textile plants has been implicated in environmental degradation with impacts on water quality, habitats, and possibly on human health.

     EverDye is currently working to bring its methods from the lab to commercial scale-up. Berlan notes that EverDye’s approach has an advantage over competitive sustainable dyeing approaches because it can use existing textile industry production infrastructure.

“Rather than simply recreating historical dyeing techniques, EverDye is attempting to combine modern scientific understanding with more sustainable feedstocks and manufacturing methods.”

     Berlan also acknowledges that AI and automation can be used in research and innovation for sustainable dyeing. It can help discover new molecules and can help with sorting and recycling.

“However, technology alone will not solve the industry’s sustainability challenges. Berlan believes meaningful progress will require cooperation between brands, manufacturers, technology developers, and consumers.”

     In an article back in January for Move the Needle News, Berlan talked about some of the difficulties of getting the new dyeing process going commercially:

“Dyehouses around the world are optimized for conventional wet processes, and switching to something new means retraining operators, adjusting procedures, and taking on perceived risks,” says Berlan. “Even when a solution is technically ready, aligning supply chains, quality standards, and production economics takes time.”

“Conventional dyes dissolve in water, diffuse into fibres under heat and are fixed using salts and chemical binders. EverDye’s pigments rely on electrostatic attraction instead. Instead of dissolving in water and relying on heat and chemical fixatives, their pigments carry a positive charge that allows them to attach directly to fibers that have been pre-treated to carry a negative surface charge.”

“This shift changes the conditions under which dyeing happens. “It’s like a little magnetic attraction happening at room temperature, which eliminates the need for hot baths and toxic chemicals,”  says Berlan.

Material composition is another key difference. “Our pigments also bio-based, coming from organic waste and minerals, which makes them non-toxic and far more sustainable than petrochemical alternatives,” Berlan adds. “This approach lets us shift dyeing from a high-energy chemical problem into a surface chemistry solution, which is much gentler on both people and the planet.”

     Another challenge is meeting quality standards. Berlan says that EverDye meets those quality standards, citing collaborations with brands like AdoreMe. He also notes that EverDye’s process is reproducible, providing consistent quality. He notes that the company currently offers mostly limited colors: browns, oranges, and yellows. This is due to the use of iron oxides.

“Operational change is still required, but it is incremental rather than structural. “There is a small learning curve for operators to manage dosing and quality control, but overall it’s about changing the process rather than replacing machines,” he explains. “This makes it much easier for mills to adopt our technology quickly and confidently.”

     The EverDye process is also up to five times faster since it does not require rinsing steps and application of additives, usually toxic ones. Berlan expects prices to come down in the future for the bio-based dyes.

“While EverDye expects pigment prices to fall as volumes increase, Berlan is clear about current realities. “We will gradually reduce the price of our pigments and dyes through economies of scale, but they will probably remain more expensive than conventional pigments with comparable performance.”

“Cleaner fibers also mean that recycling—whether chemical or mechanical—becomes much easier,” he explains. “In practice, this can make fiber-to-fiber circularity more achievable and efficient, which is critical for a truly sustainable textile industry.”

     Berlan also cites collaborations with the organization Fashion for Good, which is helping test the process in real-world supply chains.

He adds that the biggest lesson for them so far has been that technical innovation alone isn’t enough. “You need to demonstrate consistent quality, cost-effectiveness, and easy integration for mills to actually adopt a new process. Science can deliver a breakthrough, but real-world adoption comes from building trust, showing reproducible results, and making the technology feel like a natural extension of existing operations.”

  

 

 

References:

 

From petrochemicals to pigments: how EverDye is reinventing textile dyeing. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering. August 7, 2026. From petrochemicals to pigments: how EverDye is reinventing textile dyeing

The most sustainable way to color fabric. Rethinking the relationship between fashion and our ecosystem for colorful, long-lasting, low-impact wardrobes. Everdye. Product - Sustainable colors for creative industries

Tackling one of fashion’s hardest climate problems — how EverDye is rethinking colour. Move the Needle News. January 28, 2026. Tackling one of fashion’s hardest climate problems — how EverDye is rethinking colour

After Years of Clean Energy Emphasis, Tech Companies’ Carbon Footprints are Soaring Due to AI Data Centers: Offsetting Emissions Has Grown Too

     Tech companies used to be poster children for clean energy, utilizing renewable energy for data center buildout. However, the vastly higher energy use of AI data centers makes it impossible for them to continue with low-carbon projects. Natural gas has emerged as the most practical source to power AI data centers with the continuous energy they need. Some mitigation of that gas can be done, such as utilizing certified lower-emissions natural gas and, in a few cases, providing carbon capture.

     According to Haley Zaremba in an article for Oilprice.com:

“Big Tech is seeing its carbon footprint expand by double-digit rates driven almost entirely by the AI boom. According to official company figures, the total carbon emissions of Google and Microsoft each skyrocketed by 25% year-over-year from 2025 to 2026, while Amazon's increased by 16%.”

     She mentions that an Amazon data center project in South Texas is building what might be the highest-emitting natural gas plant in the country. The facility would be permitted to release 33 million tons of CO2 per year.

     Unless more efficient methods of powering and cooling data centers are developed, emissions will continue to rise. Tech companies have been buying up carbon credits to offset AI emissions at high enough rates that by late last year credits were in short supply. As the graph below from a late 2025 Reuters article shows, Microsoft is by far the major buyer of carbon offsets. She cites a paper in the journal npj Climate Action that determines that emissions generated by AI projects will far exceed emissions avoided by using renewables, which is rather obvious. 

     They quantified those estimated emissions. The authors are predicting higher 2035 emissions from AI data centers than IEA estimates. 

     The 2025 Reuters article notes:

“Overall, $10 billion has been spent in the spot market and longer-term offtake agreements combined, according to market tracker CDR.fyi.”

     The graph below from the article shows that, among carbon offsets, biochar production is leading by far since the carbon is thought to be stored better and it is cheaper. Carbon removal credits tripled in 2025 compared to 2024. Right now, there is higher biochar demand than supply, so companies are gearing up to produce and deploy more of it. Carbon credits are also in high demand and in short supply.

“Credit supply has not kept pace with demand.”

“A third of requests to buy credits through the Patch platform were for biochar, yet it ultimately made up less than 20% of sales because of tight supply, Patch said.”

“Reforestation credits were requested 25% of the time, but sold 12% of the time.”

 

     

References:

 

AI set to extend fossil fuel dominance. Haley Zaremba. OIlprice.com. August 16, 2026. AI set to extend fossil fuel dominance

Big Tech offsetting AI-linked emissions leaves carbon credits in short supply. Simon Jessop, Susanna Twidale and Virginia Furness. Reuters. November 18, 2025. Big Tech offsetting AI-linked emissions leaves carbon credits in short supply | Reuters

AI-driven productivity gains enable more CO₂ emissions than they avoid in a global energy–economy model. Will Alpine, Nathan Geldner, Holly Alpine & Maksym G. Chepeliev. npj Climate Action. volume 5, Article number: 71 (2026. August 4, 2026. AI-driven productivity gains enable more CO₂ emissions than they avoid in a global energy–economy model | npj Climate Action

 

Gas Turbines Set to Become More Durable and Lasting Due to Use of Self-Repairing Ceramic Coatings Under Extreme Heat

      Gas turbines operate continuously at high temperatures of well over 800°C (1,470°F). This makes them vulnerable to degradation through wear and friction, sometimes creating cracks in the metal. Researchers from Concordia University in Montreal recently published results of an exploration of a new type of coating that helps turbines perform better under intense heat. The research was published in the journal Communications Materials.

     Author and Ph. D. candidate Andre Mayer began by studying how oxides like rust form on engine parts.

"These oxides actually play an important role when components operate under extreme conditions, like high temperatures," he says. "They create a protective layer that prevents metal surfaces from sticking to one another during operation."

     The research team then figured out how to control the formation of preferred beneficial oxides to enhance the formation of a protective layer.

"We developed coatings made from cobalt and chromium oxides that mimic the chemistry of naturally occurring oxide layers known as glaze layers. These protective layers normally form only under very specific operating conditions and on certain engine components.

"By applying a coating with similar chemistry from the start, we can provide similar protection even where those conditions are never met," Mayer explains. "Although our new coatings are about as thick as a human hair, they can completely change the surface performance."

     The new coatings are also able to heal cracks in the metal, essentially self-repairing them. The ceramic cobalt-chromium coatings are expected to extend the lifespan of gas turbine engines and reduce maintenance requirements. 

     The materials that make up the coating also appear to be widely available and inexpensive. The technology, which is still under patent, was developed for the aerospace industry, but is also applicable to the gas turbine power industry.

"We're excited about the broader potential of this work," Stoyanov says. "While it was inspired by challenges in aerospace engines, the same concept could be applied across many engineering fields where components operate under extreme conditions."

 

 

References:

 

Self-repairing coating promises to make gas turbines more reliable and longer lasting. Chris Maskell. Tech Xplore. August 12, 2026. Self-repairing coating promises to make gas turbines more reliable and longer lasting

Glaze-enabled self-healing ceramic coatings for extreme environments. Andre R. Mayer, Omar Zouina, Michael Chandross, Martin Dienwiebel, Christian Moreau & Pantcho P. Stoyanov. Communications Materials. June 15, 2026. Glaze-enabled self-healing ceramic coatings for extreme environments | Communications Materials

Indirect Greenhouse Gases Make up 12% of Global Warming: The Impacts of Carbon Monoxide, Non-Methane VOCs, Nitrogen Oxides, and Hydrogen

     The 1997 Kyoto Protocol set up reporting requirements for seven ‘direct’ greenhouse gases, with significant global warming potentials (GWPs). These are listed below.

     Six of the seven of the gases, the ones aside from CO2, have much higher GWPs than CO2, which is the standard by which they are measured.

     Recently, a group of scientists argued that indirect greenhouse gases (iGHGs), which are responsible for 12% of global warming, merit more attention. These gases are not addressed under any climate treaty.

     Mediafeed reports:

“Carbon monoxide, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), nitrogen oxides and hydrogen are considered indirect greenhouse gases, because they do not absorb heat themselves, but they cause reactions in the atmosphere that affect the climate,” says Tianyi Sun, a senior climate scientist at Environmental Defense Fund, a global nonprofit.

“In a recent paper in the journal Science, Sun, EDF Chief Scientist Steven Hamburg and eight other climate experts argue that it’s time to include indirect greenhouse gases in the international agreements that shape what types of climate pollution countries measure, target and reduce.”

     Indirect greenhouse gases do cause global warming directly, but do so indirectly through chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Most iGHGs come from burning fossil fuels and from industrial processes like chemical manufacturing. Emissions of them come from many sectors.

“Thirty years ago, our understanding of indirect greenhouse gases was in its early stages,” explains Sun. “Now, our understanding has matured, but the policy hasn’t caught up.”

     The IPCC is developing technical guidance for countries on how to include a wider range of climate pollutants in their national inventories in its next report, scheduled to be published in 2027. I wonder how this will affect trajectories. Have we been underestimating total greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 12% by not accounting for iGHGs? While the article suggests 15%, the abstract of the paper in Science notes that iGHGs make up 80% of the unaccounted 15% of global warming. That makes them potentially responsible for as much as 12% of global warming in future assessments.

     The authors of the paper note that addressing three of these indirect GHGs, carbon monoxide, VOCs, and nitrogen oxides, also addresses them as concerning pollutants and/or precursors to ground-level ozone.  

“Even though monitoring and enforcement of these pollutants isn’t uniform and needs to be scaled up across the world to deliver maximum results, existing management programs give policymakers a head start, says Sun.

     The table below shows the GWPs of the four iGHGs as well as their global temperature change potential (GTP).

 

References:

 

The forgotten 15% of global warming pollution. Anne Marie Borrego. Mediafeed. August 8, 2026. The forgotten 15% of global warming pollution

Integrating indirect greenhouse gases into climate frameworks: These substances have minimal direct climate effects but trigger chemical reactions that can lead to warming. Ilissa Ocko, Jean-Francois Lamarque, Jonathan M. Moch, Sam Abernethy, Tianyi Sun, Tom Grylls, Arindam Roy, Steven P. Hamburg, Rick Duke, and Philip B. Duffy. Science.11 Jun 2026. Vol 392, Issue 6803. pp. 1134-1137. Integrating indirect greenhouse gases into climate frameworks | Science

Kyoto Protocol Gases. Green Calculus. August 2026. The 7 Kyoto Protocol Gases: The GHGs You Must Report

Recyclable, Compact Zinc-Ion Supercapacitor Used in Lightweight Energy Storage Reduces E-Waste

     New research published in ACS Energy Letters reports on the successful chemical recycling of compact zinc-ion supercapacitors used for lightweight energy storage. The researchers were able to quickly disassemble the supercapacitor into reusable components. The devices were used to power a glider's propeller, and after disassembly, parts were reused in two new ones that performed as well as the original device. The device “used zinc ions in a water-based, nonflammable electrolyte, dissolvable adhesives and reusable electrically conductive materials.”

     The energy storage device may be applicable to lightweight energy storage uses such as in phones, smart watches, and some drones. Its recyclability means it will produce less e-waste.

     Tech Xplore reports:

"We built on our lab's prior work, combining high-energy alternative zinc-ion chemistry and structural supercapacitors to make a recyclable version that enables second-life cells and outperforms prior state-of-the-art devices," says Koripally, the lead author of the study.    

“For the supercapacitor, the researchers created a zinc metal–copper foil anode and an activated-carbon-fiber cathode. In between, they placed a solid electrolyte made from a porous resin coated onto a plastic film and soaked in a zinc(II) chloride salt solution. The resin formed strong bonds when heated but broke apart in a slightly acidic liquid. Finally, they fused the layers together with heat, forming a thin device with a 2-volt potential.”

“From initial fabrication through two rounds of recycling, the carbon fibers successfully completed more than 172,000 charge-discharge cycles and maintained similar electrical performance throughout their lifetime.”

“These findings demonstrate a promising approach for lightweight energy storage that minimizes electronic waste, the team says.”

     It is mainly the carbon-fiber cathode that is recycled. The disassembly reaction in the weak acid takes place at room temperature.

    

References:

 

An energy storage device designed to be recycled. Science X staff. Tech Xplore. August 12, 2026.  An energy storage device designed to be recycled

Recyclable Zinc Ion Structural Supercapacitor Enabled by Porous Vitrimer. Nandu Koripally; Lulu Yao; Robert Chambers; Shengqiang Cai; Tse Nga Ng. ACS Energy Lett. (2026), August 11, 2026. Recyclable Zinc Ion Structural Supercapacitor Enabled by Porous Vitrimer | ACS Energy Letters | ACS Publications

China’s Strategic Oil Reserve: Largest in the World: Data and Comparisons with the U.S.

  

    China’s moves to stockpile oil proved advantageous following the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. It is estimated that China holds by far the world’s largest strategic oil reserve at 1.3 billion barrels. That is equivalent to about 3.6 million barrels per day for a year. While that is a lot of oil, it is still far less than the oil produced by the U.S., 23.6 million barrels per day. China also produces about 4.3 million barrels per day, but its total production and strategic reserve are less than a third of U.S. production. China consumes over 16 million barrels per day, about four times what it produces. The U.S., in contrast, consumes about 20.6 million barrels per day, about 2.7 million barrels per day less than it produces, and it exports the excess. I made the graph below that compares these numbers. It shows that oil exports from the U.S. triple China’s strategic oil reserves. It also suggests that increased exports from the U.S., along with strategic oil releases around the world of 400 MMBbls, including 172MMBbls from the U.S., have done the most to stabilize oil markets. Japan and Europe, which also have significant strategic oil reserves, contributed. While China’s strategic oil reserves helped to buffer it from high oil prices, they did not tap into them. Such a large SPR is necessary for a country whose mass consumption of oil far exceeds its production. 

     The following graph shows strategic oil reserves by country before the recent drawdowns.

     An article in Outlook Business Desk suggests that China cut its oil imports by 40% in June and that buffered by its use of strategic reserves, its growing domestic production, and its growing adoption of EVs. Of course, high petrol prices will make EVs more competitive. However, these three buffers combined are only a temporary reprieve for a country as reliant on oil imports as China. Its loss of 5-6 MMBbl/day of imports is probably not sustainable in the long term. While China has not tapped its SPR like the U.S., Japan, and Europe have, it has tapped into commercial and corporate reserves at refineries, which include several hundred million barrels. They have also cut exports of refined products. This is offsetting a 40% reduction in imports. At some point, that lost imported oil will have to be replaced to meet demand. When is the question?  

     According to Wikipedia:

“China's strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) remained nearly unchanged between the start of the Iran war and June 2026. To ensure domestic supplies without using strategic reserves, China halted its supplies of refined oil products to other countries, while using corporate stockpiles, outside its official SPR of 1.23 billion barrels, to supply domestic needs. There could also be other previously unreported reserves in China. China's growing renewable energy sector and electric vehicle industry have also reduced the demand for petroleum products. The reduction in demand caused China to cut its oil imports. Analyst estimates from June 2026 differ on how long this can last: while they claim commercial reserves should last past the end of 2026, some also claim overall reserves will be depleted before then. China's paused demand and stockpile of oil has kept the global oil price below market expectations since the war started, with the aim of avoiding a global recession. Analysts have anticipated low imports even shortly after the war's end. The country's future buying decisions are likely to influence the global crude price.”

     A July article by Rand Europe explores how China could use its large SPR for geoeconomic leverage, but I would caution that the leverage is limited for a country so reliant on imports. It may give them leverage compared to other net importers such as India, which imports 90% of its oil. I think such geoeconomic leverage will be quite limited. They do mention that when China’s oil demand drops, probably sometime in the 2030s, I’m guessing, due to more electrification and nuclear power, its SPR can provide more leverage. However, a large net importer will never enjoy the leverage of a net producer like the U.S. Thus, China’s SPR, while a good and useful tool for China, can do little for world markets, except temporarily reduce world demand.

     China does understand the value of its SPR and has been loading it up since late 2025. Ongoing projects in 2025-2026 will add about 169 million BPD in new storage capacity. China’s buildup of its SPR is likely a response to the Russia-Ukraine war, and it is helping cushion it during the Iran war as well. Low oil prices in 2025 spurred Chinese buying for its SPR. China also diversified its import sources in 2025, which aided it in the 2026 disruptions. China also maintains some secrecy about its stored oil reserves, and many people believe they have more oil stored than indicated. The “several hundred million barrels” of commercial and corporate reserves are part of that.

 

References:

 

Who Holds the World’s Largest Strategic Oil Inventories in 2026? Economics Insider. May 18, 2026. Who Holds the World’s Largest Strategic Oil Inventories in 2026?

China's strategic petroleum reserve as a geoeconomic tool: A 'what if' exercise. Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, Henri van Soest, and Karishma V. Patel. Rand. July 21, 2026. China's strategic petroleum reserve as a geoeconomic tool: A 'what if' exercise | RAND

Strategic petroleum reserve (China). Wikipedia. Strategic petroleum reserve (China) - Wikipedia

China Cut Oil Imports By 40% Amid Hormuz Crisis; Here’s How It Pulled It Off: As the Strait of Hormuz crisis disrupts global oil flows, China’s massive reserves, record domestic output and rapid EV adoption have helped it absorb the shock better than India. Outlook Business Desk. August 10, 2026. China Cut Oil Imports By 40% Amid Hormuz Crisis; Here’s How It Pulled It Off – Outlook Business

China accelerates oil reserve site build amid stockpiling drive. Reuters. October 7, 2025. China accelerates oil reserve site build amid stockpiling drive | Reuters

 

River Sand and Gravel Mining/Dredging is Impacting Rivers, Groundwater, Water Quality, Sediment Availability, and Coastal Saltwater Intrusion

      A new meta-study analyzing over 400 previous studies was recently published in Review of Geophysics about the dredging and mining of river sand and gravel and its impacts. The study confirmed that river sand and gravel are often extracted much faster than they can naturally be replaced. This results in significant impacts. 

     According to ZME Science:

“The riverbeds sink, banks collapse, groundwater drops, saltwater moves inland, habitats disappear, and communities lose land and livelihoods.”

     They note that river sand and gravel are preferred for concrete production and make up to 70% of concrete by volume. Global extraction of sand and gravel amounts to about 50 billion metric tons per year.

“Mining lowers the riverbed and changes how water moves. Faster, more turbulent flows can scour the channel and push erosion. Scientists sometimes call this hungry water: flow with enough energy to carry sediment, but too little sediment available, so it begins eroding the river itself.”

“Over time, the channel can deepen, widen or straighten. Banks can collapse, which can threaten houses, roads, and farmland well beyond the mining site. The effects can also travel underground. Rivers interact with nearby groundwater, so a deeper channel can contribute to falling water tables. In coastal deltas, it can also allow seawater to move farther inland, threatening freshwater supplies and agriculture.”

“Sandbars, gravel beds and shallow channels provide habitat and feeding or breeding grounds for fish and aquatic insects. Dredging can remove those features directly while stirring fine sediment into the water, reducing light and degrading water quality.”

     They note that sediment replenishment rates for rivers need to be better understood. They suggest that areas where dredging would have less impact should be identified and prioritized for extraction. The good news is that after mining is stopped, rivers can build up sediment and get back to normal sedimentation over time.

     The paper’s abstract summarizes the impacts and notes that problems are likely to develop where extraction is growing fast, such as Africa and Asia:

“In most documented cases, annual removal exceeds bed-material supply several-fold, producing channel incision, bank collapse, declining groundwater tables, deteriorating water quality, and inland migration of saline water in coastal areas. These physical changes cascade into habitat loss, infrastructure damage, and livelihood insecurity, especially across rapidly developing regions of Asia and Africa.”

     Below are figures from the paper. The first explores global demand and consumption of river sand and gravel resources.

     The figure below shows geomorphic impacts of river sand and gravel extraction.

     The figure below shows a conceptual framework of river-aquifer interactions after sand and gravel extraction.

     Impacts of river sand and gravel mining on water quality are depicted below.

     Impacts of river sand and gravel mining on coastal erosion, sediment starvation, delta formation, tidal processes, and saltwater intrusion on aquifers are shown below.

     The following section is from the paper’s conclusions:

“The synthesis of hydrogeomorphic evidence indicates that physical processes form the main pathway through which mining effects propagate across space and time. Removal of bed material alters channel gradients and flow structure, initiating incision, knickpoint migration, bank instability, and changes in sediment transport and connectivity. These responses differ between gravel- and sand-dominated rivers and between artisanal and mechanized extraction, but they share a common pattern: once sediment removal exceeds replenishment, impacts are rarely confined to the excavation site. Over years to decades, local disturbances accumulate, lowering water levels, modifying flood dynamics, and reducing sediment supply to downstream rivers, deltas, and coasts. Ecological and socio-economic impacts reported across regions—such as habitat loss, declining fisheries, infrastructure damage, and livelihood insecurity—are therefore closely tied to these hydrogeomorphic adjustments, even although they are seldom quantified alongside physical process metrics.”

 

 References:

   

The environmental problem you’ve never heard about: Sand mining is quietly reshaping rivers around the world. Mihai Andrei. ZME Science. August 13, 2026. The environmental problem you’ve never heard about: Sand mining is quietly reshaping rivers around the world

River Sand and Gravel Mining: Global Drivers, Impacts, and Pathways for Sustainable Management. Edward Park, Christopher R. Hackney, Dung Duc Tran, Mette Bendixen, Jim Best, Kai Wan Yuen, Hannah Runeckles, Md Sadiul Alam Chyon, Karl Kästner, Sonu Kumar, Halinishi Yusuf, Vanessa Lamb, Lars L. Iversen, Aelis Spiller, Rajiv Sinha, Eduardo Francisco da Silva, Enner Alcantara, Chengcheng Wu, Chengpeng Lu, Chu Jian, Jingyu Wang, Nguyen Duc Thien, Lian Feng, Priyank Pravin Patel, Jiachun Huang, and Adam D. Switzer. Review of Geophysics. Volume 64, Issue 3. July 20, 2026. River Sand and Gravel Mining: Global Drivers, Impacts, and Pathways for Sustainable Management - Park - 2026 - Reviews of Geophysics - Wiley Online Library