It's become a most unpleasant part of my daily commute: the smell of commuter train brakes. When I get off the train, I flinch at the odor, which puts me in the mind of week-old diapers on fire.

I don't think it was this bad a year ago, and I notice I'm not the only one who's asking why. To a Wilmington commuter, The T's Dan Grabauskas suggested:

Although, as you note, this odor is very unpleasant, I assure you that it is not harmful and there is no reason to be concerned about any long term effects.

I hope not, and I don't want to start a panic, but last week I heard a different opinion from someone who probably knows the T better than Grabauskas. I don't know his source, but he says the smell could be carcinogenic, and it's caused by brake shoes MBCR had made on the cheap, where the low bidder used materials the EPA has not approved.

Like I said, I hope not, because I'd hate to think my unavoidable commute is shortening my life. In the course of a typical weekday, I can't avoid the stink. I smelled it in the center of a crowded car today, which rather goes against this other comment from Grabauskas:

While this odor is usually confined to the undercarriage of the train, certain weather conditions such as a change in wind direction may result in the odor being carried into the coach interior. The odor may also be more powerful for commuters sitting in the end sections of the coach or when the coach doors remain open longer than usual at busier stops.

Sorry, but that's just plain wrong, Mr. G. Every time a train stops, and especially at stations with no platform, the smell goes everywhere.

By the way, the subway brake shoes in Montreal aparrently cause the stations to smell of peanuts. Maybe the T should look into buying from their supplier instead?