Fossil Fuels: Burning Question Of Air Pollution

Burning fossil fuels is a major contributor to air pollution, which has severe impacts on the environment and human health. Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have been burned to generate energy since the invention of the first coal-fired steam engines in the 1700s. While they have powered our world and propelled our cars, they have also polluted our air and water, and driven global warming and climate change. The combustion of fossil fuels releases harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and toxic airborne particles, which have detrimental effects on the planet and human health.

Greenhouse gases and climate change

The burning of fossil fuels is a major contributor to the increase in greenhouse gases and climate change. Fossil fuels refer to coal, oil, and natural gas, which are burned to generate energy. This energy is used to power transportation, industrial processes, and electricity generation.

When fossil fuels are burned, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, such as nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane, into the atmosphere. These gases have a warming effect on the Earth's climate. Carbon dioxide is the most emitted greenhouse gas, accounting for about 65% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is at its highest in 800,000 years. These gases can remain in the atmosphere for decades to centuries, trapping heat and intensifying the greenhouse effect. This leads to an increase in the Earth's average air temperatures, known as global warming.

The consequences of this global warming are significant. Even a slight increase in average global temperature, of 1°C, has had observable effects. This includes a rise in sea levels, more frequent and severe extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, species extinction, and food scarcity. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), emissions from fossil fuels are the dominant cause of global warming. If we are to limit warming to 1.5°C, urgent action is required to reduce emissions and transition to renewable energy sources.

The combustion of fossil fuels also emits hazardous air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and mercury. These pollutants have detrimental effects on both the environment and human health. They contribute to air pollution, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. Additionally, these pollutants can lead to acid rain, eutrophication, and damage to crops, forests, and wildlife.

To address the issues of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, a transition to renewable energy sources is imperative. This includes adopting clean energy sources such as hydroelectricity, wind power, and solar energy, as well as improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in various sectors, including transportation, industry, and agriculture.

Air pollution and children's health

Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the air. Greenhouse gases trap heat in our atmosphere, causing global warming. Fossil fuels are used to meet our energy needs, but their use has had an enormous toll on humanity and the environment, from air and water pollution to global warming.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. They breathe more rapidly and inhale more air relative to their size than adults, and their bodies, organs, and immune systems are still developing. Air pollution damages children's health and increases their risk of diseases later in life. Children are affected by air pollutants from the womb through to adulthood.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 93% of the world's children under the age of 15 years (approximately 1.8 billion children) breathe air that is so polluted it puts their health and development at serious risk. Tragically, many of them die. WHO estimates that in 2016, 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air.

Air pollution is linked to an increased risk of several health issues in children, including:

• Respiratory infections, including acute lower respiratory infections, pneumonia, upper respiratory infections, and otitis media (ear infections).
• Asthma, which is triggered by air pollution.
• Low birth weight and preterm birth, as air pollution increases the risk of babies being born prematurely and with lower birth weights.
• Allergies, including allergic rhinitis (runny nose), eczema, and conjunctivitis (itchy eyes).
• Impaired lung function and lung development, as children's lungs are small and still developing.
• Neurodevelopmental and cognitive issues, as air pollution impacts brain development.
• Increased risk of chronic diseases in adulthood, such as cardiovascular disease.

Children from low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected by air pollution due to historical and ongoing injustices. These communities are often located closer to busy roadways, industrial facilities, power plants, and other sources of hazardous pollution. Additionally, people of color are more likely to suffer health consequences from air pollution due to systemic racism, which has resulted in limited economic and political power for these communities.

It is crucial to address air pollution to protect children's health and reduce the burden of disease and developmental impairments caused by exposure to toxic air pollutants. Improving air quality around schools, kindergartens, and other child-centric settings is essential, as children cannot protect themselves from air pollution or directly influence policies.

Extreme weather events

The combustion of fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) into the atmosphere, causing an intensification of the greenhouse effect. This, in turn, leads to an increase in the Earth's average air temperatures, otherwise known as global warming.

Global warming has already caused the average global temperature to increase by 1°C, with coal, oil, and natural gas contributing significantly to this rise. Oil releases a huge amount of carbon when burned, accounting for approximately a third of the world's total carbon emissions. Natural gas, while promoted as a cleaner energy source, still accounts for a fifth of the world's carbon emissions.

The consequences of global warming include the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, cyclones, and wind storms. These events can lead to disasters costing billions of dollars, with the cost of extreme weather events in the United States between 2016 and 2020 estimated at $606.9 billion.

The warming of the oceans and atmosphere due to climate change is causing sea levels to rise, with a rise of about 9 inches since the late 1800s. This rise in sea levels contributes to more frequent flooding, destructive storm surges, and saltwater intrusion, further exacerbating the impacts of extreme weather events.

The combustion of fossil fuels also emits a range of toxic air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), which contribute to the formation of smog and acid rain. These pollutants have significant impacts on human health, causing respiratory diseases, asthma, and other chronic illnesses.

The effects of air pollution from fossil fuels are particularly harmful to children, impairing cognitive and behavioral development and contributing to respiratory and other chronic diseases. Climate change-induced extreme weather events also contribute to neurodevelopmental and mental health problems in children, causing stress and anxiety about future risks.

It is important to note that the impacts of air pollution from fossil fuels are long-lasting, affecting individuals throughout their lifetimes and future generations. Therefore, it is crucial to address this issue and transition to renewable energy sources to mitigate the health and environmental consequences of burning fossil fuels.

Oil spills and water pollution

Oil spills are a significant contributor to water pollution. They can occur through accidental leaks or spills, or the careless release of oil and oil products, leading to large-scale pollution. Oil spills can contaminate water sources, making water unconsumable and causing severe harm to marine wildlife. Oil can suffocate fish, get caught in the feathers of birds, and block light from photosynthetic plants in the water. The transportation and transfer of oil increase the risk of spills, with up to 15 transfers required between ocean tankers, pipelines, trains, and trucks.

Routine maintenance of ships, such as bilge pumping, also contributes to oil pollution. Bilge is a mixture of oil and water, and while each discharge is small, the thousands of releases add up to a significant amount of pollution. Offshore oil production operations, including drilling, leaks, and spills from tankers and ships, account for approximately 8% of the total amount of oil waste that reaches the ocean.

Big spills typically account for 5 to 12 percent of total oil pollution that enters the ocean, but they are especially serious due to the heavy concentration of oil in one region. Oil spills can severely contaminate beaches and sediments, and their impact can spread to open oceans, terrestrial and marine habitats, and coastal regions. The Persian Gulf Oil spill, for example, saw over 888 million litres of oil spilled into the ocean near Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, making it the largest known oil spill in history.

In addition, oil pollution can enter water sources through runoff from asphalt, as well as spills in fuel depots, oil leaks in vehicles, and the improper disposal of paint or oil down storm drains. Approximately 2.6 billion litres of waste oil reach the ocean annually, with over 50% coming from waste disposal and land drainage.

The containment and cleanup of oil spills can be extremely costly, ranging from millions to billions of dollars. Oil spills not only damage the environment but also impact human health and livelihoods, particularly in undeveloped and poverty-ridden countries that may lack access to alternative clean water sources.

Health issues and premature death

Burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. This contributes to global warming and climate change, which have significant impacts on human health and can lead to premature death.

Fossil fuel combustion produces hazardous air pollutants, including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and toxic heavy metals such as mercury. These pollutants have been linked to various health issues, including respiratory illnesses, heart disease, cancer, and asthma. Exposure to these pollutants can also cause developmental impairments and neurodevelopmental disorders in children, impacting their cognitive and behavioural development.

The health impacts of fossil fuel pollution disproportionately affect certain communities, especially low-income communities and communities of colour. For example, Black and Hispanic Americans are exposed to significantly higher levels of particulate matter pollution than the average population. Additionally, children, especially those from low-income families, are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of fossil fuel combustion, as they are more susceptible to respiratory infections and other health issues.

According to research, fossil fuel air pollution is responsible for a significant number of premature deaths worldwide. In 2018, it was estimated that fossil fuel pollution caused approximately 8.7 million deaths globally. In the United States alone, 350,000 premature deaths in 2018 were attributed to fossil fuel-related pollution, with certain states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia having higher rates. Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources can help prevent these premature deaths and mitigate the health risks associated with fossil fuel combustion.

The economic costs associated with the health impacts of fossil fuel combustion are also significant. The annual cost of the health consequences of fossil fuel-generated electricity in the United States is estimated to be up to $886.5 billion. This includes direct medical costs, costs to healthcare systems, and lost productivity due to illness and premature death. Addressing fossil fuel combustion and transitioning to cleaner energy sources can bring substantial economic benefits in addition to improving public health and reducing premature mortality.

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