Coal's Dark Side: Air Pollution And Its Impact

Coal is a carbon-rich black rock formed over thousands of years due to heat and pressure. It has been a reliable energy source for the US, but burning coal releases harmful environmental and health-damaging pollutants. These include mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and other heavy metals. The release of these pollutants has been linked to asthma, cancer, cardiovascular and lung ailments, neurological problems, and even premature death. Additionally, coal contributes to global warming through carbon dioxide emissions, which have severe ecological consequences. While efforts to reduce emissions and retire coal power plants have shown positive results, the transition away from coal is essential to mitigate its worst impacts.

Coal power plants emit toxic soot and heavy metals

Coal-fired power plants emit toxic soot and heavy metals, threatening community health. The burning of coal releases small particles composed of a mixture of metals, chemicals, and acid droplets into the air. This particulate matter, or soot, is the ashy grey substance in coal smoke, and is linked to chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, cardiovascular issues, and premature death. In 2014, US coal power plants emitted 197,286 tons of these small airborne particles, along with 41.2 tons of lead, 9,332 pounds of cadmium, and other toxic heavy metals.

Mercury, a toxic heavy metal, is one of the most concerning pollutants emitted by coal plants, which are responsible for 42% of US mercury emissions. Mercury can damage the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, and is a serious threat to child development. Even in small amounts, it can contaminate water sources and make fish unsafe to eat. Other heavy metals emitted by coal-fired power plants include arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, and nickel, which have been detected in the flue gas of these plants. These heavy metals have been found to contaminate the surrounding soil, with the content of metals in the soil proportional to the emissions in the flue gas.

To reduce these harmful emissions, power plants can use flue gas desulfurization equipment, or scrubbers, to clean sulfur and other particles from the smoke before it exits their smokestacks. Additionally, electrostatic precipitators and baghouses can be used to remove particulates and heavy metals from the smoke. While these technologies can help mitigate emissions, many plants do not have adequate controls installed, and emissions from coal-fired power plants continue to contribute to air pollution and its associated health and environmental impacts.

Coal is a major contributor to global warming

Coal-fired power plants produce toxic soot and ozone, which are dangerous lung irritants. These pollutants cause chest pain, coughing, and breathing difficulties, and can lead to chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, cardiovascular issues, and premature death. In addition, coal plants are responsible for mercury emissions, which can cause damage to the nervous, digestive, and immune systems. Other pollutants emitted by coal power plants include lead, cadmium, arsenic, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds.

The burning of coal also releases carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas that contributes significantly to global warming. Carbon dioxide acts like a blanket, warming the Earth's surface and leading to rising temperatures. As a result, global warming exacerbates water scarcity, causing droughts and agricultural challenges. It also contributes to rising sea levels, flooding, extreme weather events, and species loss.

Coal mining and extraction processes further contribute to environmental harm. Surface mining, for instance, involves removing soil and rock above coal deposits, altering landscapes and potentially harming aquatic wildlife downstream. Mountaintop removal and valley fill mining have significantly impacted regions such as the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia and Kentucky.

While efforts to reduce emissions and develop cleaner energy sources are ongoing, coal continues to be a major contributor to global warming. The transition away from coal is essential to mitigating its worst impacts on the planet and human health.

Coal plants are responsible for mercury emissions

Coal-fired power plants are responsible for a significant proportion of mercury emissions. In the United States, coal plants are responsible for 42% of mercury emissions. Mercury is released during the combustion of coal and other fossil fuels. Coal has a much higher concentration of mercury than other fossil fuels, which is why coal-fired power plants emit larger amounts of mercury.

Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that can cause severe damage to the nervous, digestive, and immune systems. It is particularly dangerous to those living in communities near coal-fired power plants, who bear a disproportionate burden of mercury pollution. Mercury can contaminate land, oceans, and streams, and is then converted into methylmercury, a harmful toxic that can accumulate in our food and, eventually, in our bodies. As a result, all fish from US waters have detectable levels of mercury, and consumption advisories are in place across all fifty states.

Lignite, or "low-rank," coal is especially polluting. Despite accounting for only 8% of US coal production in 2019, lignite coal is subject to less stringent standards under the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which the EPA should correct to protect Americans' health. In 2012, the EPA implemented Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, requiring power plants to limit their emissions of toxic pollutants. The EPA has also proposed regulating mercury pollution under the Clean Air Act, which would help to improve public health and restore ecosystems.

While pollution control technology is available, around 40% of US power plants do not control emissions of toxic pollutants like mercury. Coal-fired power plants also emit other harmful pollutants, including carbon monoxide, arsenic, and lead, which have severe environmental and public health impacts. Technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) are being developed to reduce CO2 emissions from coal plants, but they are still expensive and unproven at scale.

Coal power is linked to asthma, heart and lung ailments

Coal is an abundant fuel source that is inexpensive to produce and convert into energy. However, its production and use have significant environmental and health impacts. Coal-fired power plants provide about a quarter of the world's energy supply, but they also release harmful air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particles called PM2.5. These pollutants have been linked to asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, and other serious health issues.

Asthma

Research has found a direct link between coal power plant emissions and asthma attacks. A study conducted in Louisville, Kentucky, examined the impact of reduced sulfur dioxide emissions from four coal-fired power plants on asthma symptoms in the local population. The results showed an immediate decrease in the use of rescue inhalers and a reduction in asthma-related hospitalisations and emergency department visits. This provides strong evidence that lowering coal power plant emissions can lead to improved asthma outcomes.

Heart Disease

Coal-burning power plants have been identified as a significant contributor to heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, coal emissions cause one in five heart-disease-related deaths in the United States. Research suggests that particles from coal-burning power plants are more damaging to the heart than other sources of emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognised the need to reduce power plant carbon pollution, as it contributes to the soot and smog that harm health. Strengthening regulations and implementing stricter emissions standards are crucial steps in mitigating these health risks.

Lung Ailments

The reliance on coal-fired power plants has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer and other lung ailments. A study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found a correlation between a country's use of coal-fired power plants and the incidence of lung cancer among its citizens. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) generated by these plants has been associated with higher risks of early death from lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Global efforts to reduce coal emissions, such as carbon capture and sequestration, are vital to mitigating these health risks and improving overall air quality.

Carbon capture and storage technologies can reduce emissions

Coal is an abundant and inexpensive fuel source, but it is also a major contributor to air pollution and global warming. When coal is burned, chemical reactions release toxic airborne pollutants and heavy metals into the environment. These pollutants include soot, mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and carbon monoxide, which have been linked to various health issues such as asthma, cardiovascular problems, and cancer. Additionally, coal-fired power plants contribute to the release of heat-trapping gases, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the main driver of global warming.

To address the emissions of CO2 from burning coal, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies have emerged as a potential solution. CCS involves capturing CO2 at emission sources, such as power stations, and then transporting and storing it underground in geological repositories. This process prevents the CO2 from being released into the atmosphere, where it could act as a heat-trapping gas and contribute to global warming.

CCS technologies can reduce emissions by capturing and isolating CO2 from industrial and energy-related sources. The captured CO2 is separated, conditioned, compressed, and transported to a storage location for long-term isolation. This forms a "closed loop" where carbon is returned to the Earth instead of being released into the atmosphere. While most current carbon capture projects use liquids to chemically remove CO2, several new types of capture processes are also being developed.

Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS) is another approach where biomass, such as wood or grasses, removes CO2 from the air through photosynthesis. The biomass is then burned in a power plant to produce energy, and the resulting CO2 is captured and stored. This creates "negative emissions" as it removes CO2 from the atmosphere. Additionally, direct air capture (DAC) is a chemical process that removes CO2 directly from the air, although it is currently quite expensive due to the low concentration of CO2 present.

While CCS shows promise in reducing emissions, it also faces several challenges. Firstly, CCS is expensive, especially compared to cleaner forms of energy generation, and it requires additional energy, increasing the fuel needs of coal-fired plants. Secondly, CCS does not address other harmful pollutants produced during coal combustion, and it cannot reduce emissions from vehicles or homes. There are also concerns about the safety of storing CO2 underground, as leaks could potentially lead to asphyxiation and environmental harm. Despite these challenges, several countries, including the US, Canada, and China, have invested in and supported CCS projects, recognizing its potential in combating climate change.

Frequently asked questions