Kiera Jefferson
Coal and oil are fossil fuels that are formed over millennia from buried organic material. Coal is derived from plants that grew in and near swamps, while oil is formed in the ocean from small plants and animals called plankton. The burning of coal and oil releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution and global warming. Coal, in particular, has been associated with the emission of particulate matter, heavy metals, and toxic pollutants, posing significant risks to human health and the environment. However, it is important to recognize that both coal and oil play a significant role in energy production and have been widely used for various industrial and domestic purposes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pollutants | Carbon dioxide (CO2), Mercury, Fly ash, Bottom ash, Sulfur, Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Particulate matter (soot), Lead, Cadmium, Carbon monoxide, Volatile organic compounds (VOC), Arsenic, Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Fluorinated gases |
| Pollutant sources | Burning fossil fuels, Coal mining, Coal ash impoundment ruptures, Combustion of polluting fuels, Industrial activities, Power plants, Construction sites, Waste burning, Fires, Drilling, Extraction, Transportation |
| Pollutant effects | Global warming, Asthma, Cancer, Heart and lung ailments, Neurological problems, Acid rain, Environmental damage, Health issues in children, Morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, Adverse perinatal outcomes |
| Pollutant reduction methods | Carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS), Scrubbers (flue gas desulfurization equipment), Electrostatic precipitators, Baghouses, Pollution-control devices, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act |
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What You'll Learn
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
The carbon-intensity of a fuel type determines the amount of CO2 it produces when burned. Coal has a lot more carbon in it than oil or gas. As a result, burning coal produces more CO2 than burning oil or gas. The carbon molecules in coal are broken down when it is burned, releasing energy and producing CO2.
CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion are the primary driver of global warming. The greenhouse effect, caused by the build-up of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere, traps long-wave thermal radiation emitted from the Earth's surface, warming the planet. Human activities, including burning fossil fuels, have warmed the planet by almost 1.5°C so far.
To mitigate the environmental and health impacts of CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are being developed. CCS allows coal plants to capture CO2, which can then be transported and stored in geological repositories without contributing to climate change. However, CCS remains expensive and unproven at the scale needed to address climate change.
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Mercury and other heavy metals
Mercury is a naturally-occurring chemical element found in rock in the Earth's crust. It is a toxic heavy metal that can cause neurological and developmental damage in humans and other animals. It is a neurotoxin that can damage the nervous, digestive, and immune systems. Methylmercury, a type of mercury, can easily pass through the blood-brain and placental barriers and accumulate in the bodies of animals and humans. Research has shown that exposure to methylmercury can damage brain function and development in fetuses and children.
Coal and oil release mercury into the atmosphere when burned. Mercury can stay airborne for over a year and travel to remote ecosystems, especially in the Arctic Circle. It can enter our bodies through the food we eat, particularly fish from U.S. waters, which have detectable levels of mercury. People living near coal-fired power plants are at a higher risk of mercury exposure. Coal plants are responsible for a significant percentage of mercury emissions in the US, and these emissions have severe health and environmental impacts.
In addition to mercury, coal-fired power plants emit other heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium. These heavy metals are toxic and harmful to human health. Lead exposure, for example, can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, especially in children. Arsenic is a known carcinogen, increasing the risk of cancer. Cadmium exposure can lead to kidney damage and bone loss.
To reduce mercury and heavy metal emissions, technologies such as activated carbon injection can be used. Additionally, regulations and standards, such as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, have been implemented to tighten limits on mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants. However, stronger safeguards and enforcement are often needed to protect public health and the environment from the harmful effects of these pollutants.
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Ash
Coal ash, also known as coal combustion residuals (CCR), is the material produced from the burning of coal, primarily in coal-fired power plants. CCRs include a range of by-products, such as fly ash, bottom ash, and boiler slag. Fly ash is a fine, powdery substance composed mostly of silica, while bottom ash is a coarse angular particle that is too large to be carried up into smokestacks. Boiler slag is molten bottom ash that forms pellets with a smooth glassy appearance after being cooled with water.
Coal ash is one of the largest types of industrial waste generated in the United States. In 2014, nearly 130 million tons of coal ash were produced, and in 2021, coal-fired electric utilities generated almost 80 million tons. The disposal of coal ash has significant environmental and public health risks. Coal ash surface impoundments exist across the country, and their rupture can damage the environment downstream. Coal ash contains toxic contaminants, including heavy metals, that can cause cancer and other serious health issues.
To address these risks, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken several measures. The EPA has finalized settlements with companies like Greenidge Generation LLC, AES Puerto Rico, L.P., and Alabama Power Company to resolve violations and ensure proper groundwater monitoring and reporting for coal ash disposal. The EPA also increased enforcement resources for the coal ash program and assessed over 100 units for compliance with regulations.
The coal industry and the US government have collaborated to develop technologies to reduce impurities and increase energy efficiency, thereby decreasing coal consumption. Additionally, carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS) are being explored to capture and store CO2 emissions from coal plants, mitigating their environmental impact.
While coal ash is closely associated with coal, oil combustion also produces ash and contributes to air pollution. Oil, formed from plankton and other organic material in the ocean, has a lower carbon content than coal. However, burning oil still releases climate-warming CO2 and contributes to global warming.
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Sulfur and other impurities
Coal and oil are fossil fuels that are formed from once-living things. Coal is derived from plants that grew in and near swamps millions of years ago, while oil is derived from small plants and animals called plankton that died and sank to the ocean floor. Both coal and oil contain sulfur and other impurities, which are released into the atmosphere when they are burned, contributing to air pollution and global warming.
Sulfur is an unwanted impurity in coal and oil. It is generally found in three forms in coal: sulfate sulfur, sulfidic sulfur (pyritic sulfur), and organic sulfur. The relative abundance of these sulfur compounds depends on the coal rank, with the thermally stable thiophenes being most abundant in high-rank coals like anthracite. Sulfur is introduced during the early stages of peat formation, along with nitrogen and oxygen, and additional sulfur is obtained through microbiological action. During the metamorphic stage, some sulfur is lost as hydrogen sulfide, along with methane, water, ammonia, and carbon dioxide.
The combustion of coal and oil releases sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is a significant contributor to air pollution and has detrimental effects on human health and the environment. SO2 contributes to the formation of acid rain, which can harm aquatic ecosystems and impact downstream areas. Additionally, SO2 is linked to respiratory illnesses and other adverse health effects.
To mitigate the impact of sulfur and other impurities in coal, various methods have been developed. Power plants use flue gas desulfurization equipment or "scrubbers" to remove sulfur from smoke before it exits their smokestacks. The coal industry has also implemented techniques to clean coal after mining and reduce the amount of sulfur and other impurities. Some consumers opt for low-sulfur coal, and technologies are being developed to enhance the energy efficiency of coal combustion, thereby reducing the amount of coal burned per unit of energy produced.
Other impurities and pollutants released during the combustion of coal include particulate matter or soot, heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and arsenic, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ash residues. These pollutants have been linked to a range of environmental and public health issues, including global warming, asthma, cancer, heart and lung ailments, neurological problems, and acid rain.
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Nitrogen oxides
NOx refers to both nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which have different effects on the environment and human health. Nitrogen dioxide, for instance, is a major irritant and a component of smog, which can cause respiratory problems and potentially injure vegetation. When combined with ozone or sulfur dioxide, its harmful effects can be further exacerbated.
The release of NOx into the atmosphere contributes to a range of environmental concerns. Firstly, it plays a crucial role in the formation of ground-level ozone, which is harmful to human health. Secondly, NOx reacts with other substances to form airborne nitrate particles or acid aerosols, similar to the effects of nitrogen dioxide. Additionally, NOx contributes to the formation of acid rain, a significant environmental issue.
NOx is also implicated in the depletion of the ozone layer in the stratosphere and is considered a greenhouse gas. It can react to form nitrous oxide (N2O), which is a potent greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. Furthermore, NOx is linked to eutrophication, which is the explosive overgrowth of algae that depletes oxygen in aquatic ecosystems, causing ecological imbalances.
To mitigate the harmful effects of NOx emissions, various control strategies have been implemented. One approach is the use of Low NOx burners (LNBs) during combustion, which reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by burning fuel at the optimal air-fuel ratio. Another method is Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), a fully commercial technology that minimises NOx emissions by injecting ammonia into the exhaust gas upstream of a catalyst, causing a reaction that forms nitrogen and water vapour. While SCR is effective, it may result in ammonia slip, which can have its own environmental consequences.
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Frequently asked questions
The combustion of coal releases carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the most common greenhouse gas. Other pollutants include mercury, fly ash, bottom ash, and soot.
Oil drilling, extraction, and transportation result in the leakage of methane (CH4), which is a very potent greenhouse gas.
No, all fossil fuels are harmful to the environment. However, coal and oil are the largest contributors to carbon pollution, with natural gas being a close third.
