Helena Joyce
Burning coal has a number of harmful effects on the environment and human health. Coal-fired power plants emit a range of toxic substances, including mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and other heavy metals. These emissions contribute to air pollution and have been linked to various health issues, such as asthma, respiratory illnesses, heart problems, and cancer. They also play a significant role in global warming, with carbon dioxide (CO2) being the primary greenhouse gas produced from burning coal and other fossil fuels. Additionally, coal mining practices can impact landscapes and contaminate waterways, further affecting aquatic ecosystems and drinking water supplies. While technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS) are being explored to mitigate coal pollution, transitioning to cleaner energy sources is essential to avoid the worst impacts of coal on the environment and public health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Global warming | Driven by emissions of heat-trapping gases, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2) |
| Health | Linked with asthma, cancer, heart and lung ailments, neurological problems, and premature death |
| Waterways | Can contaminate waterways and drinking water supplies |
| Environment | Acid rain, smog, haze, and species loss |
| Emissions | Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, mercury, and other heavy metals |
| US mercury emissions | Coal plants are responsible for 42% of US mercury emissions |
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Global warming
The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, is the primary cause of global warming. This is due to the release of carbon dioxide (CO2), a heat-trapping gas, into the atmosphere. CO2 is produced when the chemical bonds holding carbon atoms in coal are broken down during combustion. The more carbon-intensive a fuel is, the more CO2 it emits when burned. Coal is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, containing up to 97% carbon, and its combustion is a significant contributor to global warming.
CO2 emissions from burning coal for energy accounted for about 19% of total US energy-related CO2 emissions in 2022. Additionally, coal plants in the US are responsible for 42% of mercury emissions, which can cause neurological and developmental damage. Other emissions from burning coal include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and heavy metals, which contribute to air pollution and have negative impacts on human health and the environment.
The consequences of global warming driven by these emissions include rising temperatures, accelerating sea level rise, increased frequency and intensity of droughts, heatwaves, and storms, as well as species loss. These impacts are directly tied to the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. To mitigate these effects, technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) are being explored, which could allow coal plants to capture and store CO2 emissions instead of releasing them into the atmosphere.
The transition away from coal towards cleaner sources of electricity is essential to avoiding the worst impacts of global warming. While coal has been a significant source of energy for the US, providing roughly 30% of the country's electricity, the burning of coal comes at tremendous environmental and public health costs. As such, reducing the use of coal and implementing measures to capture and store CO2 emissions are crucial steps in mitigating global warming and its associated consequences.
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Respiratory illnesses
Burning coal releases a number of airborne pollutants and heavy metals that are harmful to human health, particularly respiratory health. Coal plants are responsible for 42% of mercury emissions in the US, a toxic heavy metal that can cause neurological and developmental damage. Other pollutants released by burning coal include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide. These pollutants contribute to respiratory illnesses such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and lung cancer.
Coal-fired power plants are a major source of air pollution, and their emissions have been linked to a range of respiratory ailments. A study of adults living near a coal-fired power plant in Kentucky found that those exposed to coal ash were more likely to report respiratory symptoms such as frequent coughing, shortness of breath, hoarseness, and respiratory infections compared to a non-exposed group. The study also hypothesized that the proximity to the coal-fired power plant contributed to poorer respiratory health in the exposed group.
Coal mining and extraction processes can also have respiratory health implications. Mountaintop removal and valley fill mining, for example, can release dust and pollutants into the air, affecting both the environment and the health of nearby communities. Coal workers' pneumoconiosis, or "black lung disease", is an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling coal dust over time. This disease causes scarring in the lungs, impairing respiratory function, and is common among coal miners.
The use of coal for cooking and heating, particularly in rural areas, has been associated with a higher risk of respiratory illnesses. Research conducted in China found that burning wood or coal for cooking was linked to a 36% higher risk of hospitalisations or deaths from chronic and acute respiratory diseases compared to using clean-burning fuels. The longer the use of solid fuels, the higher the risk, with a 54% increased risk among those using wood or coal for 40 years or more.
Switching to clean-burning fuels, such as electricity or gas, can significantly reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses associated with burning coal. Additionally, the development and implementation of technologies to capture and store carbon dioxide and other pollutants from coal-fired power plants can help mitigate their environmental and health impacts. However, these technologies are still expensive and unproven at a large scale.
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Water pollution
Burning coal has been a reliable source of energy for the US. However, it releases a number of airborne toxins and pollutants, which have a detrimental impact on the environment and public health.
The water pollution caused by burning coal is extensive and often devastating. Coal-fired power plants produce over 100 million tons of coal ash annually, with more than half of this waste being disposed of in ponds, lakes, and landfills. Over time, coal ash contaminates waterways and drinking water supplies. The ash contains toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and mercury, which are harmful to human health and the environment.
The process of mining and extracting coal also significantly impacts water sources. Mining operations can contaminate nearby rivers, lakes, and aquifers with highly acidic water, a process known as acid mine drainage. This acidic water contains heavy metals that leach into the water sources, making them unsafe for aquatic life and human consumption.
Mountaintop removal mining, predominantly used in Central Appalachia, has flattened mountains and destroyed mountain streams and valleys. The rock and dirt used to fill the mined valleys can contain pollutants that harm aquatic life downstream. Additionally, underground mines can experience collapses, releasing acidic water that further contaminates water sources.
"Once-through" coal plants contribute to thermal pollution by pumping water directly from a source, heating it, and then discharging it back at a higher temperature. This warmer wastewater can decrease fertility and increase heart rates in fish, disrupting aquatic ecosystems.
The various stages of coal's lifecycle, from mining to burning, have far-reaching consequences for water supplies. The contamination of water sources with toxic substances and the alteration of water temperatures have severe ecological and public health implications.
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Mercury emissions
Burning coal releases harmful pollutants into the air, including mercury, a toxic heavy metal. Mercury emissions from coal combustion are a significant environmental concern, as coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury pollution in the United States. The combustion of coal and other fossil fuels releases mercury into the atmosphere, with coal having higher mercury concentrations than other fossil fuels. This results in coal-fired power plants often emitting larger amounts of mercury pollution.
Mercury pollution from coal plants poses severe health risks, including brain damage in infants, heart disease, and other serious health issues. It is associated with neurological and developmental damage in humans and animals. Additionally, mercury can contaminate water sources, making fish unsafe for consumption. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, coal plants contribute to 42% of mercury emissions in the US.
The concentration of mercury in coal varies depending on the region from which the coal is sourced. For example, coal from the Northern Appalachian area has the highest mean and median mercury values, followed by the Southern and Central Appalachian regions. On the other hand, coal from the Uinta region has the lowest mercury concentrations among the indicated areas.
To address the issue of mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken several actions. The EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards aim to regulate mercury pollution and protect public health. However, lignite coal, which is highly polluting, is currently subject to less stringent standards under these regulations.
There are also ongoing efforts to reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The Global Mercury Partnership provides technical information and online tools to help countries identify appropriate measures for mercury reduction, considering economic, geographic, and technological factors. Additionally, power plants can employ selective mining, coal washing, and post-combustion removal techniques to minimize mercury emissions.
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Air pollution
When coal is burned, it releases a number of airborne toxins and pollutants. These include mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and various other heavy metals. The health impacts of these toxins can range from asthma and breathing difficulties to brain damage, heart problems, cancer, neurological disorders, and premature death.
Coal plants are responsible for 42% of mercury emissions in the US. Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that can damage the nervous, digestive, and immune systems and seriously threatens child development. Even a tiny amount of mercury deposited in a lake can make the fish unsafe to eat. Other harmful pollutants include sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain and respiratory illnesses, and nitrogen oxides, which contribute to smog and respiratory illnesses.
The Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act require industries to reduce pollutants released into the air and water. Power plants use flue gas desulfurization equipment, or scrubbers, to clean sulfur from the smoke before it leaves their smokestacks. Carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS) are emerging technologies that could allow coal plants to capture some of the CO2 they would otherwise release. However, CCS remains expensive and unproven at the scale needed to address climate change.
Coal-burning power plants are a major source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, which is associated with an increased risk of death. Research has shown that for every 1 μg/m3 increase in coal PM2.5, mortality increased by 1.12%. This is more than twice the risk previously associated with general PM2.5 exposure from all air pollution sources. It is estimated that between 1999 and 2020, 460,000 deaths could have been prevented in the absence of emissions from coal power plants.
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Frequently asked questions
Burning coal releases airborne toxins and pollutants, including mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and various other heavy metals.
When coal is burned, it releases energy as well as a number of pollutants. The chemical bonds holding its carbon atoms in place are broken, and other chemical reactions occur, carrying toxic airborne pollutants and heavy metals into the environment.
The health impacts of burning coal include asthma, breathing difficulties, brain damage, heart problems, cancer, neurological disorders, and premature death.
Carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS) are emerging technologies that could allow coal plants to capture some of the CO2 they would otherwise release. The US government has invested around $5 billion in CCS research. Additionally, the coal industry and the US government have cooperated to develop technologies to remove impurities from coal and make coal more energy-efficient, reducing the amount of coal burned per unit of energy produced.
