Helena Joyce
Coal is an abundant and inexpensive fossil fuel that is popular for energy production. However, its production and use have significant environmental impacts. The extraction of coal through surface mining involves removing massive amounts of topsoil and rock, leading to land degradation, habitat loss, and pollution. This process releases toxic pollutants into the air, such as mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, contributing to air pollution and respiratory illnesses. Additionally, coal mining affects water bodies, with acid mine drainage causing heavy metal contamination and threatening aquatic life and ecosystems. The burning of coal releases carbon dioxide, a primary greenhouse gas, contributing to global warming and climate change. The consequences of global warming include drought, sea-level rise, flooding, and species loss. While efforts are being made to reduce emissions and recycle waste, the environmental impacts of coal pollution are extensive and require urgent attention to mitigate its effects on the planet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air pollution | Asthma, cancer, heart and lung ailments, neurological problems, acid rain, global warming, and other severe environmental and public health impacts |
| Water pollution | Acid mine drainage, Selenium pollution |
| Land pollution | Removal of topsoil, deforestation, erosion, loss of habitat |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | CO2, methane, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide |
| Heavy metal pollution | Mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, selenium |
| Climate change | Global warming, drought, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather, species loss |
| Environmental degradation | Devastated landscapes, polluted waterways |
| Health impacts | Respiratory illnesses, lung disease, brain damage, heart problems, premature death |
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What You'll Learn
Coal mining harms lands, waters, and wildlife
Coal mining has several negative effects on lands, waters, and wildlife. Surface mines, or strip mines, account for a significant proportion of coal mining in the United States, and they drastically alter the landscape by removing the soil and rock above coal seams. This type of mining has led to mountaintop removal and valley fill mining, which has had a severe impact on regions like the Appalachian Mountains. Streams are often blocked or diverted, and the water draining from these areas can contain harmful pollutants that endanger aquatic life.
The process of coal mining and the subsequent washing of coal releases contaminated water and sludge, which can spill or leak, affecting nearby rivers, lakes, and groundwater. This is known as acid mine drainage, and it occurs when iron sulfide is exposed to air and water, lowering the pH of nearby water bodies and making them highly acidic. The water becomes contaminated with heavy metals like arsenic, copper, and lead, which are toxic to both humans and wildlife.
Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal, is another significant source of pollution. It contains toxic elements such as arsenic, lead, and mercury, and large quantities of it are produced annually by coal-fired power plants. Coal ash is often stored in unlined ponds or pits, from which it can escape into nearby waterways, further contaminating drinking water sources. Coal ash exposure has been linked to an increased risk of cancer, heart damage, reproductive issues, and neurological disorders.
Additionally, coal mining operations can release methane gas, which can explode if it becomes concentrated in underground mines. While venting is necessary to mitigate this risk, methane emissions still contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the dust and water runoff from coal mining areas can impact the environment, and while laws mandate their control and reclamation of the land, the process can be challenging and may not always be fully successful.
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Coal releases airborne toxins and pollutants
Sulfur dioxide, for example, is a significant contributor to acid rain, which has detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Nitrogen oxides are another pollutant released from burning coal, which plays a role in the formation of smog and haze, exacerbating respiratory illnesses and lung disease. Particulate matter released from coal combustion exacerbates respiratory and lung conditions and contributes to reduced visibility and haze.
Coal-fired power plants are major sources of mercury emissions, which have been linked to neurological and developmental damage in humans. Additionally, coal combustion releases heavy metals, such as lead, which accumulate in the environment and pose risks to human health and ecosystems. These airborne toxins can travel long distances, affecting areas far from the source of emission.
The environmental impact of coal mining and combustion extends beyond air pollution. Coal mining activities, such as surface mining, involve removing large amounts of topsoil and vegetation, leading to erosion, habitat destruction, and polluted waterways. Acid mine drainage, a byproduct of coal mining, occurs when water reacts with sulfur-bearing minerals, resulting in highly acidic water containing toxic heavy metals. This toxic water poses a severe threat to aquatic life and renders affected waterways unusable for drinking or recreational purposes.
Coal combustion also contributes to global warming and climate change. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning coal are a primary driver of the greenhouse effect, leading to rising temperatures and associated consequences such as droughts, sea-level rise, flooding, extreme weather events, and species loss. In the United States, coal-fired power plants are responsible for a significant portion of energy-related CO2 emissions, underscoring the environmental impact of coal usage.
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Coal contributes to air pollution and climate change
Secondly, burning coal releases airborne toxins and pollutants, including mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and heavy metals. These emissions contribute to smog, haze, respiratory illnesses, and lung diseases. They also cause acid rain, which has detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Additionally, coal-fired power plants are linked to increased asthma, cancer, heart ailments, neurological problems, and premature death.
Thirdly, coal is a significant contributor to global warming and climate change. When burned, coal releases carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary greenhouse gas produced from fossil fuel combustion. In 2022, coal-fired power plants in the United States accounted for about 19% of total energy-related CO2 emissions and 55% of CO2 emissions from the electric power sector. The consequences of global warming fueled by coal include drought, sea-level rise, flooding, extreme weather, and species loss.
Lastly, coal mining and power plants impact waterways and water quality. Acid mine drainage occurs when water reacts with sulfur-bearing minerals, resulting in highly acidic water containing toxic heavy metals. This pollutes waterways, poses health risks to ecosystems and communities, and threatens aquatic life. Selenium pollution in water from coal mining has been linked to the decline and deformation of fish and bird populations.
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Coal mining causes acid mine drainage
Coal mining has several adverse effects on the physical environment, and acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the most serious. AMD is the outflow of highly acidic water from coal mines. It occurs when water reacts with sulfur-bearing minerals in rocks, resulting in water that contains toxic heavy metals. This process is called acid rock drainage (ARD), which happens naturally in some environments as rocks weather. ARD is exacerbated by large-scale disturbances in the earth, which is common in mining.
The oxidation of sulfide minerals in rocks causes AMD. When metal sulfides are exposed to water and air, the surrounding rock produces acidity through oxidation. The presence of bacteria colonies can further expedite metal ion decomposition. Iron is the primary metal ion found in these mines, but other metals include copper, nickel, and zinc. The water can be so acidic that it burns the skin.
AMD poses a severe threat to wildlife and renders affected waterways unusable for drinking and recreation. It can also turn the water an alarming orange or red colour, a widespread problem in central Appalachia. AMD is a significant water quality issue in the US, degrading approximately 12,400 miles of rivers and streams and posing health risks to ecosystems and nearby communities. The pH levels in nearby waters drop considerably, and the water becomes highly corrosive, damaging appliances and plumbing.
AMD can also be created by human activities at coal washeries and coal handling facilities. The toxic metals prevalent in these waters include iron, copper, nickel, and lead. When combined with a low pH, the water is damaging to aquatic environments. Aquatic macroinvertebrates living in streams affected by AMD show fewer individuals, less diversity, and lower biomass. Many fish species cannot tolerate the pollution.
In the United States, abandoned underground mines produce most of the AMD. However, some recently mined and reclaimed surface mines have also produced ARD and degraded groundwater and surface water resources. In the UK, many discharges from abandoned mines are exempt from regulatory control, but the Environment Agency and partners have provided innovative solutions, such as constructed wetlands.
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Coal-fired power plants are linked to asthma, cancer, and other illnesses
Coal-fired power plants emit air pollution that includes mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Living near coal-fired power plants is linked to higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, cancer, and premature death.
A review of studies over the past 30 years provides evidence that people living near coal-fired power plants have higher death rates and at earlier ages, along with increased risks of respiratory disease, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other health problems. The elevated health risks appear to be associated with exposure to air pollutants from coal-burning power plant emissions and the heavy metals and radioactive material in coal ash, a waste product of the plants.
In 2020, a study in Louisville, Kentucky, examined how reductions in pollution from coal-fired power plants affected local cases of asthma. Four coal-fired power plants in the region either converted to using natural gas or installed scrubbers to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions. The researchers found that reductions in sulfur dioxide emissions were associated with fewer local hospitalizations and emergency department visits due to asthma. There was also an immediate drop in the use of rescue inhalers in the area, indicating a reduction in daily asthma symptoms.
Another study focused on Jefferson County, where one coal-fired power plant shut down and three others upgraded their emission controls. The researchers found that inhaler use, ER visits, and hospitalizations all fell—in some zip codes by up to 55 percent—following the reduction in emissions. This translates to about 400 prevented asthma-related hospital visits per year across the county.
The health impacts of coal-fired power plants can range from asthma and breathing difficulties to brain damage, heart problems, cancer, neurological disorders, and premature death.
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Frequently asked questions
Coal mining can cause harm to the environment in several ways. Surface mining, for example, involves removing large amounts of topsoil and rock with huge machines to expose underground coal deposits. This can lead to deforestation, habitat destruction, and increased erosion rates. Coal mining has also been linked to water pollution, particularly through acid mine drainage (AMD), which occurs when water reacts with sulfur-bearing minerals, resulting in highly acidic water contaminated with heavy metals. This can have severe ecological and community health impacts.
Burning coal releases airborne toxins and pollutants, including mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and heavy metals. These emissions contribute to air pollution and have been linked to a range of respiratory and health issues, including asthma, lung disease, and neurological problems.
Coal is a fossil fuel, and burning it releases carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary greenhouse gas responsible for global warming and climate change. In 2022, coal-fired power plants in the United States accounted for about 19% of total energy-related CO2 emissions. The consequences of global warming include drought, sea-level rise, flooding, extreme weather, and species loss.
AMD is one of the most serious issues in coal mining areas. It occurs when water reacts with sulfur-bearing minerals in rocks, resulting in highly acidic water that contains toxic heavy metals. AMD poses a severe threat to wildlife and renders affected waterways unusable for drinking or recreation. In some cases, the acidic water can cause skin burns and often appears as an orange or red color, as observed in central Appalachia.
