Kiera Jefferson
Coal is a cheap and abundant resource that is used all over the world for electricity generation. However, coal is also a major source of air pollution and global warming. The burning of coal releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, arsenic, and heavy metals such as mercury. These pollutants have been linked to a range of health issues, including respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular problems, neurological damage, and developmental issues in humans. In addition to the health risks, coal emissions also contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, with carbon dioxide (CO2) from coal use responsible for about 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use. While efforts are being made to reduce emissions through carbon capture and storage technologies, coal continues to be a major contributor to pollution and climate change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions | CO2 is the main byproduct of coal combustion, with nearly 4 grams of CO2 produced for every gram of carbon burnt. Coal is responsible for about 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use. |
| Methane (CH4) emissions | Methane occurs in coal deposits and is released during mining activities. Methane emissions from coal mines accounted for about 7% of total U.S. methane emissions and about 1% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. |
| Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions | Sulfur dioxide is produced when coal is burned, contributing to acid rain and respiratory illnesses. Coal-powered electricity generated 64% of total SO2 emissions in 2014, with about 3,195,000 tons emitted. |
| Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions | Nitrogen oxides are emitted from coal combustion, contributing to smog and respiratory illnesses. In 2014, coal and electric utilities emitted 1,776,000 tons of NOx. |
| Particulate matter (PM2.5) | Coal-burning power plants emit fine particulate matter, also known as "soot," which is linked to chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, cardiovascular issues, and premature death. In 2014, U.S. coal power plants emitted 197,286 tons of small airborne particles. |
| Heavy metals | Coal plants are responsible for releasing toxic heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic, which can have neurological, developmental, and health impacts. Mercury alone accounted for 45,676 pounds of emissions in 2014. |
| Carbon monoxide | Coal power plants emitted 576,185 tons of carbon monoxide in 2014, contributing to headaches and stress on individuals with heart disease. |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | In 2014, coal power plants released 22,124 tons of VOCs, which contribute to the formation of ozone. |
| Water pollution | Coal mining and extraction can contaminate waterways, affecting aquatic wildlife and downstream environments. |
| Land pollution | Coal mining can alter landscapes, and waste products from coal combustion require proper disposal to avoid environmental contamination. |
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What You'll Learn
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas produced from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. When coal is burned, the carbon in the coal combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. One molecule of carbon dioxide is 3.67 times heavier than a molecule of carbon, due to the additional weight of the two oxygen atoms. Coal is not 100% carbon: burning a pound of coal emits 2.07 pounds of CO2.
In 2023, global emissions from coal combustion reached approximately 15.4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide. This figure represented a 1.4% increase compared to 2022, with China responsible for over half of the world's coal emissions. The United States and China are the largest emitters of CO2 from coal consumption, accounting for nearly 60% of global CO2 emissions from coal. India is a distant third.
CO2 emissions from coal combustion have increased massively since the 1960s. In 2021, methane emissions from active and abandoned coal mines accounted for about 7% of total US methane emissions and about 1% of total US greenhouse gas emissions. Coal plants are responsible for 42% of US mercury emissions, a toxic heavy metal that can damage the nervous, digestive, and immune systems and is a serious threat to child development. Other pollutants emitted by coal-fired power plants include nitrogen oxides, which contribute to smog and respiratory illnesses, and particulates, which are linked to aggravated asthma, cardiovascular issues, and premature death.
Research is underway to address emissions of CO2 from burning coal, including carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS). CCS separates CO2 from emissions sources, allowing it to be injected underground for permanent storage. However, the deployment of CCS technologies has been limited by high costs, the absence of government policies incentivizing their use, and uncertainties regarding their performance at a commercial scale.
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Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a significant pollutant that is released when coal is burned. It is formed when the sulfur in coal reacts with oxygen. SO2 emissions contribute to acid rain and respiratory illnesses. In addition to SO2, coal-fired power plants also emit nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, and lead. These pollutants have negative impacts on human health and the environment.
Coal-fired power plants are the major source of SO2 emissions. In the United States, coal-fired generation was responsible for 90% of SO2 emissions from the electric power industry in 2017. However, annual SO2 emissions from the U.S. electric power industry have significantly declined, with an 88% decrease between 1997 and 2017. This reduction is mainly due to the implementation of environmental regulations, such as the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) of 1990 and the Acid Rain Program, which imposed caps on SO2 emissions. Additionally, the declining use of coal for electricity generation in favor of natural gas and renewable sources has contributed to the decrease in SO2 emissions.
To comply with federal regulations, such as the Mercury and Air Toxics (MATS) rule, coal-fired plants have installed pollution control equipment. Two types of technologies that reduce SO2 emissions are dry sorbent injection systems (DSI) and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems, also known as scrubbers. Between December 2014 and April 2016, the installation of these systems on coal-fired plants resulted in a 49% reduction in SO2 emissions.
The combustion of coal releases sulfur in two inorganic forms, pyritic sulfur (FeS2) and sulfates (Na2SO4, CaSO4, FeSO4), and organic forms such as sulfides. During high-temperature coal gasification, most of the sulfur is converted to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and a small amount of carbonyl sulfide (COS) due to the reduced oxygen environment. These acid gases are removed from the syngas using acid gas removal equipment, and the residual sulfur is converted to SO2 before being released into the atmosphere.
The health effects of SO2 emissions include respiratory problems, especially for individuals with asthma or heart disease. High levels of airborne SO2 can cause difficulty breathing, and long-term exposure can lead to respiratory illnesses and aggravate existing heart conditions. Additionally, SO2 reacts with other chemicals in the air to form sulfate particles, which are associated with respiratory disease, breathing difficulties, and premature death when inhaled.
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Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are among the principal emissions that result from burning coal. NOx refers to both nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Atmospheric nitrogen-containing particles decrease visibility, and NOx can react to form nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Coal typically contains between 0.5 and 3 percent nitrogen. The nitrogen in coal usually takes the form of aromatic structures such as pyridines and pyrroles. During gasification, most of the nitrogen in the coal is converted into harmless nitrogen gas (N2). However, small amounts of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) are produced and must be removed during the syngas cooling process. In gasification-based power production systems, NOx can also be formed downstream by the combustion of syngas with air in gas turbines.
The use of a diluent to lower flame temperature, such as nitrogen or steam, is the preferred method for minimizing NOx generation from a syngas-fired turbine. This control method can reduce NOx emissions levels from syngas-fired turbines to approximately 15 ppm (at 15% O2).
In the United States, coal-fired generation was responsible for 76% of NOx emissions from the electric power industry in 1997. By 2017, NOx emissions from the electric power industry had declined by 76% since their peak in 1997, with coal-fired generation contributing 76% of these emissions. The decline in NOx emissions has been driven by increased competition from natural gas and renewable generation, as well as environmental regulations that have primarily affected coal-fired generators.
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Mercury emissions
Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that is released into the atmosphere when coal is burned. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US coal power plants emitted 45,676 pounds of mercury in 2014, the latest year for which data is available. Coal plants are responsible for 42% of US mercury emissions, and the Biden administration has tightened limits on mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants, which are the biggest source of this pollutant in the US.
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that can damage the nervous, digestive, and immune systems and is a serious threat to child development. Even a tiny amount of mercury deposited on a lake can make fish unsafe to eat. Mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants have been linked to mercury poisoning in fish, which poses risks to humans who eat the fish.
The burning of coal is the largest single anthropogenic source of mercury air emissions after artisanal and small-scale gold mining, with 21% of global emissions estimated at 2,220 tonnes per year. Coal-fired power plants emit an average of 5 kilograms of mercury per year, but some plants emit over 100 kilograms. Mercury emissions from coal power plants can be reduced by up to 95% by improving coal and plant performance and optimizing control systems for other pollutants.
Some economists have calculated the net cost of the MATS rule (which regulates mercury emissions) to the US electricity sector to be about $9.6 billion per year, which is roughly equal to the estimated productivity loss from the harm caused by mercury emissions. The Biden administration's efforts to strengthen mercury emission limits are expected to protect the health of Americans, especially those living near power plants, who are often low-income communities.
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Particulate matter PM2.5 emissions
Particulate matter, often referred to as "soot", is the ashy grey substance in coal smoke. Particles vary widely in size, shape, and chemical composition, and may contain inorganic ions, metallic compounds, elemental carbon, organic compounds, and compounds from the Earth's crust. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is defined as particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter. These particles can be inhaled into the lungs and have been linked to adverse health effects, including respiratory illnesses, aggravated asthma, cardiovascular issues, and lung disease.
In 2014, US coal power plants emitted 197,286 tons of small airborne particles, measured as 10 micrometers or less in diameter. According to the California Air Resources Board, long-term exposure to PM2.5 has been associated with premature death, particularly in individuals with chronic heart or lung diseases, and reduced lung function growth in children. An analysis using ambient air quality data from 2014 to 2016 indicated that PM2.5 exposure contributes to approximately 5,400 premature deaths due to cardiopulmonary causes annually in California alone.
Coal-fired power plants are a significant source of PM2.5 emissions. In Canada, power plants burning coal accounted for 61% of PM2.5 emissions. In Mexico, coal-fired power plants contributed 6.0% of PM2.5 emissions, while in the United States, coal-fired power plants are responsible for a large portion of particulate matter emissions, particularly in the eastern half of the country.
The impact of coal combustion on PM2.5 levels extends beyond regional boundaries. Globally, over 1 million deaths were avoidable in 2017 by eliminating fossil fuel combustion, with coal contributing to over half of these preventable deaths. The transition away from coal use for energy generation is crucial in reducing the disease burden associated with PM2.5 exposure.
Addressing PM2.5 emissions from coal combustion is essential for mitigating air pollution and its associated health risks. Strategies such as carbon capture and storage technologies, transitioning to cleaner energy sources, and implementing emission reduction policies are crucial steps towards reducing the environmental and health impacts of coal-related particulate matter emissions.
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Frequently asked questions
Coal is a major contributor to global pollution. In 2023, China was the largest coal polluter, responsible for over half of the world's coal emissions. The United States and China combined account for nearly 60% of global CO2 emissions from coal. Coal plants emitted 45,676 pounds of mercury in 2014, along with other harmful pollutants such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and carbon monoxide.
Coal pollution has been linked to serious health issues. A study found that coal-fired power plants contributed to 460,000 deaths between 1999 and 2020, with the highest number of deaths occurring in 1999. The risk of mortality associated with coal pollution decreased by about 95% by 2020 as coal plants installed scrubbers or shut down. Coal pollution has been linked to respiratory illnesses, aggravated asthma, cardiovascular issues, and an increased risk of lung cancer.
Coal pollution has significant environmental impacts. The burning of coal releases harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and heavy metals into the atmosphere. These pollutants contribute to smog, haze, and acid rain, which can harm aquatic wildlife and the environment. Coal mining can also affect large areas of land, changing the landscape and contaminating groundwater.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies have emerged as a potential solution to reduce coal pollution. CCS allows coal plants to capture CO2 emissions and store them underground without harming the Earth's climate. However, the deployment of CCS technology has been limited due to high costs and the absence of government policies incentivizing its use. Other clean energy technologies, such as wind and solar power, are also being explored as alternatives to coal to reduce pollution and mitigate climate change.
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