Brian Barton
Burning coal releases a number of airborne toxins and pollutants, including mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and various other heavy metals. These pollutants have been linked to a range of health issues, from asthma and breathing difficulties to brain damage, heart problems, cancer, and neurological disorders. Additionally, coal-fired power plants produce a significant amount of coal ash, which can contaminate waterways and drinking water supplies. Coal is also a major contributor to global warming, as it releases carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas, when burned. While efforts have been made to reduce emissions and develop cleaner technologies, coal-burning continues to have significant environmental and health impacts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of CO2 emissions from burning coal in the US | 19% of total energy-related emissions and 55% of emissions from the electric power sector |
| Coal ash | The second-largest waste stream in the US, with 130 million tons of coal ash produced in 2014 |
| Coal ash storage | Stored near power plants, placed in landfills, or pumped underground |
| Health impacts | Asthma, breathing difficulties, brain damage, heart problems, Cancer, neurological disorders, premature death |
| Pollutants | Mercury, Lead, Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, Particulates, Carbon monoxide, Volatile organic compounds, Arsenic, Cadmium, Heavy metals |
| Environmental impacts | Air pollution, Global warming, Climate change, Water pollution |
| US coal consumption | Over a billion tons of coal burned per year |
| US electricity from coal | 30% of all electricity |
| Carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS) | Emerging technologies that capture CO2 from coal plants and store it underground |
| Mortality rate associated with coal power plants | 460,000 deaths between 1999 and 2020 |
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What You'll Learn
- Coal burning releases harmful pollutants into the air, including mercury, lead, and arsenic
- These pollutants have severe health impacts, including asthma, respiratory illnesses, and even brain damage
- Coal-fired power plants are a major source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, which has been linked to increased mortality risks
- Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal, is the second-largest waste stream in the US and often ends up in water bodies, contaminating them
- Technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS) are being developed to reduce CO2 emissions from coal-burning power plants
Coal burning releases harmful pollutants into the air, including mercury, lead, and arsenic
The burning of coal releases a range of harmful substances into the atmosphere, including mercury, lead, and arsenic. These pollutants have significant negative impacts on both human health and the environment.
Mercury, for example, is emitted during the combustion of coal and other fossil fuels. Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury pollution in the United States, with this pollution being particularly severe in North Dakota and Texas. Mercury has been linked to neurological and developmental damage in humans and animals. After being released into the atmosphere, mercury contaminates land, oceans, and streams, where it is converted into methylmercury, a harmful toxic that can accumulate in the food chain, including in fish consumed by humans. As a result, all fifty states have issued consumption advisories due to detectable levels of mercury in fish from U.S. waters.
Coal-fired power plants also emit lead pollution, which can have serious health consequences, especially for children, whose developing brains and nervous systems are particularly vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure. Lead pollution from coal plants can contaminate the air, soil, and water, leading to widespread exposure.
In addition to mercury and lead, arsenic is another toxic substance released during coal combustion. Arsenic is a known carcinogen, and exposure to arsenic has been linked to an increased risk of skin, lung, and bladder cancer, as well as other health issues such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
To address these environmental and health concerns, governments and industries have implemented measures to reduce pollutants. For instance, the U.S. Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act require industries to minimize pollutants released into the air and water. Additionally, the coal industry has developed technologies to remove impurities from coal and increase energy efficiency, reducing the amount of coal burned. While these efforts have led to some success in reducing mercury, arsenic, and lead emissions, more stringent standards and safeguards are needed to protect public health and the environment from the harmful effects of coal-burning pollution.
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These pollutants have severe health impacts, including asthma, respiratory illnesses, and even brain damage
Coal is the most polluting way to generate electricity. The burning of coal emits toxic and carcinogenic substances into the air, water, and land, severely affecting the health of miners, workers, and surrounding communities. Coal-fired power plants release large quantities of particles as aerosols in the atmosphere. These particles are hazardous when inhaled and can trigger many diseases, including respiratory illnesses.
Coal-fired power plants provide about a quarter of the world's energy supply. They release air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particles called PM2.5. These pollutants are associated with increased asthma symptoms and more emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths from the disease. Higher exposures to these pollutants are also linked with increased symptoms and emergency room visits for people with asthma. In one study, researchers found that reductions in sulfur dioxide emissions from four coal-fired power plants in Kentucky were associated with fewer local hospitalizations and emergency department visits due to asthma. The study also found an immediate drop in the use of rescue inhalers in the area, indicating a reduction in daily asthma symptoms.
In addition to asthma, coal-burning power plants are associated with other respiratory illnesses, such as lung disease and cardiovascular disease. People living near power plants have higher death rates and increased risks of respiratory disease, lung cancer, and other health problems. The continuous inhalation of hazardous substances, such as coal micro-particles, nanoparticles, and their by-products, constitutes an invisible risk to human health.
The pollutants emitted by coal-fired power plants can also cause neurological damage. Mercury and other heavy metals released during coal burning have been linked to both neurological and developmental damage in humans and other animals. Additionally, burning coal releases radioactive contaminants, including uranium, thorium, and ruthenium, which can accumulate in the human body and form lifelong deposits in bones and teeth, even at low levels. These radioactive contaminants further contribute to the severe health impacts of coal burning.
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Coal-fired power plants are a major source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, which has been linked to increased mortality risks
Coal-fired power plants are a significant source of air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter known as PM2.5, which includes pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and heavy metals. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), coal-burning power plants are a major contributor to PM2.5 pollution, which has serious health implications.
PM2.5 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, which is inhalable and can induce adverse health effects. These particles are a mixture of solids and aerosols, including inorganic ions, metallic compounds, elemental carbon, and organic compounds. They are released into the air during the burning of coal and can remain suspended for extended periods, allowing them to travel long distances and affect air quality in regions far from the source of emission.
The health risks associated with exposure to PM2.5 from coal-fired power plants are significant. Research by George Mason University, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has revealed a strong link between coal-fired power plants and increased mortality rates. Their study, published in November 2023, found that for every 1 μg/m3 increase in coal PM2.5, mortality rates rose by 1.12%. This is a substantially higher risk compared to PM2.5 exposure from other sources.
The study further estimated that between 1999 and 2020, approximately 460,000 deaths could be attributed to coal PM2.5 exposure, with most of these occurring between 1999 and 2007 when coal PM2.5 levels were at their highest. The decline in mortality rates since then highlights the positive impact of emissions reduction efforts and the retirement of coal power plants. However, it is important to note that the risk of mortality varies based on individual factors, with infants, children, and older adults with pre-existing heart or lung diseases being particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of PM2.5 pollution.
Coal-fired power plants not only contribute to PM2.5 pollution but also release other harmful substances. For instance, coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal, contains toxic materials such as chromium, arsenic, lead, and uranium. Additionally, coal-fired power plants emit nitrogen oxides, which contribute to smog and acid rain, and sulfur dioxide, which is linked to respiratory illnesses. These emissions have led to environmental degradation and adverse health outcomes, emphasizing the urgency of transitioning away from coal as an energy source.
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Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal, is the second-largest waste stream in the US and often ends up in water bodies, contaminating them
Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal, is the second-largest waste stream in the US. In 2014, nearly 130 million tons of coal ash were generated, according to the American Coal Ash Association. Coal ash contains toxic substances, including heavy metals and contaminants like mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, lead, chlorine, uranium, and thorium.
The improper disposal and discharge of coal ash can lead to widespread environmental and economic damage, as seen in spills near Kingston, Tennessee, and Eden, North Carolina, which contaminated nearby waterways and properties. Coal ash dumps built on streams, swamps, and wetlands can result in the leaching of arsenic and selenium into the water tables, impacting aquatic life and drinking water sources for millions of people.
The EPA has established national rules for coal ash disposal and is strengthening controls on water discharges. However, enforcement of these regulations has been lacking, and many coal ash ponds remain unlined, sitting in or near groundwater. The minimal oversight from federal and state governments has resulted in the contamination of water supplies and the exposure of Americans to toxic components of coal ash.
To address legacy pollution, coal ash must be removed from old, leaking impoundments and relocated to dry, lined storage away from water sources. Some states, like South Carolina, are implementing this solution, and in some cases, dumpsites are being restored to their former state as native wetlands. Reusing coal ash can also provide environmental, economic, and product benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved material strength and durability.
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Technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS) are being developed to reduce CO2 emissions from coal-burning power plants
Coal-fired power plants produce a wide range of pollutants, including carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, mercury, and other heavy metals. Of all fossil fuels, coal produces the most carbon dioxide per unit of energy, making it a significant contributor to global warming.
CCS can be retrofitted to existing coal-fired power plants, enabling them to continue operating while reducing their emissions—by over 95% in some cases. However, implementing CCS comes at a cost. The process of capturing and compressing CO2 can increase the cost of electricity generation, and CCS facilities may require significantly more water and fuel to produce the same amount of electricity as plants without CCS.
Despite these challenges, CCS is an important technology in the transition to net-zero emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has emphasized that achieving the ambitions of the Paris Agreement will require not only emissions reductions but also technologies to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, and CCS is one of the few available methods to achieve this.
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Frequently asked questions
Coal burning releases airborne toxins and pollutants such as mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and various other heavy metals. These pollutants have been linked to asthma, breathing difficulties, brain damage, heart problems, cancer, neurological disorders, and premature death. Coal burning also contributes to global warming and climate change.
In the United States, roughly 30% of all electricity comes from coal. Coal-fired power plants are a major source of air pollution, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Coal mines also contribute to pollution, with mountaintop removal and valley fill mining changing the landscape and affecting large areas.
Coal-burning utilities have installed equipment like scrubbers and catalytic units to reduce pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS) are also being developed to capture and store CO2 from coal plants. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set emissions limits under the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act to reduce pollutants harmful to human health and the environment.
