Content Background
Coal formation
Carbon is a chemical element that is found all over the world and in every living thing. Carbon can change into a solid, gas, or liquid. Oxygen is another element that is found in the air we breathe. Oxygen is invisible! Air is twenty-one percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere. Oxygen forms into oxides, silicates, and carbonates. Eventually carbon and oxygen bond together and form a colorless, odorless gas called CO2. In Earth’s atmosphere, CO2 is a greenhouse gas, which means it traps the heat. This “greenhouse effect” naturally helps to keep the Earth’s temperature at a level that can support life on the planet.7
Fossil fuels are remains of plant and animals. In the carboniferous period, about 300 million years ago, the chemical element in coal and other fossil fuels, carbon, was trapped inside the earth. When trees and plants die and descend into the lower part of land covered with swamps or oceans they form layers of spongy material called peat. Since the peat is contained in sand or other minerals, it transforms into sedimentary rock. Over time as more heavy rocks pile on top, heat and pressure squeeze the water out of the peat. Eventually this process, over hundreds of millions of years, transforms the peat into coal, oil, and natural gas. These fossil fuels provide us with a source of nonrenewable energy.8
Coal Characteristics
Coal is a fossil fuel. The content of coal is composed mostly of carbon and other elements such as sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen. Coal develops its high sulfur content from its combination of what organic matter was present, the duration of the burial, and what temperature and pressure conditions were present. Formation of coal is a geological process; pressure on peat creates lignite first. Lignite coal is brown coal. It is very soft and carries water weight of about 70%. Its emission level of CO2 is higher. Next, lignite transforms into sub-bituminous. At this stage, the carbon content is still low, and it still contains water. Sub-bituminous is not efficient as a source of energy. Then sub-bituminous transforms to bituminous. Bituminous coal is soft coal. It contains more carbon by weight than sub-bituminous coal and has a higher heating value. It is mined mostly in the Midwest and Appalachia. Another type of coal is Anthracite coal, a hard, black coal with a metallic luster producing very little smoke and burns slowly. The carbon content is higher than any other type of coal such the coal from the mountain ranges of the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania. It has the highest energy content of all coals.9
Coal contains 65% to 95% carbon. Carbon is an important chemical element. Carbon is atomic mass 12 and atomic number 6. It is a nonmetal element. Carbon exists all over the universe and is important to living things. All living things on earth are composed of carbon, along with hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus. Carbon atoms link easily to hydrogen and carbon is one of the only elements that can create chain-shaped molecules. Carbon has the ability to form a chemical bond with many other elements. If iron is heated up with carbon, it will make strong steel. Most of the coal on earth is carbon.10
Sulfur’s atomic number is 16. It is a nonmetal, the tenth most abundant element in the universe. It is a pale yellow solid, soft and odorless. Sulfur does not dissolve in water. It works mostly as a good electrical insulator. When burned, it emits a blue flame and melts into a molten red liquid. It binds to coal and when coal is burned it can create a toxic gas called sulfur dioxide.10 Sulfur is mined from underground deposits. It can be recovered as a byproduct from various industrial processes such as refining of petroleum. Coal contains a mixture of carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur atoms. Sulfur can be transformed into sulfuric acid, a popular chemical in industries. Sulfur is used in batteries, fertilizer, to refine oil, to process water, and to extract minerals.11
Coal extraction
Coal can be mined on the ground and underground, and from the mountaintop. Underground mining is considered most dangerous and was very popular in the earliest times. Surface mining is easiest and mountaintop removal creates a lot of damage to the ecosystem. Once coal is mined, it is pulverized and transported to a power plant for production of energy. When coal is burnt, it emits a mixture of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury, and microscopic particulate matter. The release of these elements impacts our environment.12
Coals Effects on Air, Water, and Health
Air Pollution
Carbon dioxide is a key pollutant warming the Earth. There are good and bad effects of carbon dioxide. Cars, planes, power plants and other human activities are associated with emitting higher levels of pollution because they involve burning of fossil fuels. In recent times, such activities have forced massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.13
The United States continues to see a rapid population and economic growth, new technologies, and seasonal temperatures in the last couple of decades, which corresponds with increased energy use. Although China’s population is controlled, there seems to be creation of more fossil fuel plants there than in any of the other countries. The demand for more energy will drive up the rate of CO2 emissions. The world has become industrialized and an emission from industries and manufacturing activities has become a major cause for air pollution. Research shows CO2 emission internationally and depicts the United States and China to have led other countries in emission of highly concentrated CO2 into the atmosphere. Furthermore, most underdeveloped countries have been catching up rather quickly and the burden on these underdeveloped countries will suffer the effect of increased emissions the most.
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is threatening the environment. Society’s basic needs, air to breathe, water and food are contaminated. This pollution creates so many health diseases and other dangerous problems which can affect people for a long time. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations set constraints at the federal, state, and local governments to rely on low-carbon emission, the efforts seems sluggish. The controversy involves national consistency, accountability, and the flexibility of the type of fossil fuel produced.14
Economic of Coal
Fossil fuels are a nearly unlimited source of energy. Therefore, fossil fuels are being extracted on a daily basis. Geologists are always looking for massive mines of coal. This is even stressing because population is increasing at an uncontrollable rate annually. Science and technology have now advanced tools for extraction procedures and this makes it a lot easier to extract massive amounts. Fossil fuel is a popular source of energy because it burns so easily. It is considered as a portable form of energy. Industrial machines, devices, and vehicles require only fossil fuel for power. Meanwhile, sustainable fuel sources have become a complex process. Fossil fuels have the most effective calorific value. This is one reason it’s preferable over renewable sources of energy. Fossil fuels contain very stable molecules of carbon and hydrogen. The biggest advantage of fossil fuel is it can be stored for a long time and can be transported rather easily. Fossil fuels are not expensive to extract and are most economically produced. Fossil fuels are widely available and can be extracted in large amount in one single location.15
Water Pollution
Ash produced from coal plants and waste water are dumped into rivers and streams. Waste water contains arsenic, boron, cadmium, lead, mercury, and selenium. Coal fired power plants are the biggest source of water pollution in the United States. Cancer risk can reduce a person’s IQ from the contamination of Lead (Pb) considered one of the health effects.16
Health Effects
Air pollution primarily affects the respiratory and immune systems. It can lead to additional severe symptoms and conditions such as heart disease and cancer. A more common symptom is asthma. Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine to avoid the triggers that cause an attack. You must also remove the triggers in your environment that can make your asthma worse.
Long-term exposure to polluted air can have permanent health effects such as loss of lung capacity, shortened life span, development of bronchitis, and decreased lung function. Ground level ozone is highest in the afternoon and evening hours. It can cause constriction of the airways, forcing the respiratory system to work harder in order to provide oxygen, increased fatigue, wheezing, chest pain, dry throat, headache or nausea.17
Coal and Climate Change
Climate change is a global process. The world’s climate has changed enormously and has affected many living and non-living things. Some places where it is warmer are now getting colder, and where it’s colder now is becoming warmer. This is a consequence of the “greenhouse effect.” This happens when the sunlight enters the atmosphere, passes through the blanket of greenhouse gases and it reaches land surface, which absorbs the energy. The energy is then directed back into the atmosphere in the form of infra-red rays. Some of the energy passes back into space, while much of it will get trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases, causing the Earth to warm up. This process is called the “greenhouse effect,” which causes problems for humans, plants, and animals.18
On a positive note, most recent EPA controls have some power companies eager to cut CO2 emissions and are taking actions to rely on low-carbon technology such as hydropower, wind, solar, and nuclear to alleviate climate change-related liabilities. However, as the U.S. fossil fuel consumption increases, the nation needs to make a sound decision. First, we need to look at how the human greenhouse effect can be reduced. Our technology has substantially advanced compared to other countries. This can drive the emission reduction with strong but achievable standards for power plants. States can cut the carbon pollution given the flexibility of an affordable supply of electricity for human activities. It also shows the world that the United States is committed to leading global efforts to address climate change. Fossil fuels will continue to be an important component for America’s future energy source simply making fossil fuel-fired power plants operate more cleanly and efficiently, while zero- and low-emitting power sources are consumed.19
Clean Energy
Energy sources are produced from renewable and non-renewable resources. Renewable energy can be refilled in a short period of time. Non-renewable energy takes millions of years to form. Even though it makes sense to consider our needs, the non-renewable fuel causes pollution and contaminates the air. The air we breathe and need to survive every day is contaminated. This pollution creates so many health diseases and other dangerous problems which can affect people for a long time.
Renewable energy technologies are clean and safe for the environment. They do not pollute. Renewable energy is energy developed from Earth and that can be replaced. The only problem is we can’t store the resource and use it later. Renewable energy is costly and requires a lot of maintenance and care. Most solar energy is noise free. It requires a lot of land and space to be efficient, but has good tax incentives. Despite the cost, solar technology can provide power to remote places.20
Solar Energy
Sunlight transmits massive amounts of energy. You can sense the Sun’s energy when sunlight warms your skin on a summer day. To capture the Sun’s energy, scientists have developed solar cells, called photovoltaic cells. These cells transform sunlight into electricity. When sunlight hits a solar cell, the cell soaks up some of the light energy. Particles in the solar cell move a lot quicker and the movement of these particles creates electricity. In some areas of the country, like the southwestern United States, there are many sunny days. In such places, solar cells and solar panels can make a lot of electricity and heat. Experts state that vast installations of solar panels in sunny parts of the regions could produce enough electricity to supply an entire country. New ways to capture this energy are being established all the time to maximize efficiency.21
Scientists have also continued to research other ways to produce energy, such as wind turbines or geothermal energy. Wind turbines create electricity when their blades turn in the wind. The turbines do not use fuel and do not create pollution. However, the machines are huge and can kill local birds. Geothermal energy is drilled underground and energy is sucked out where the Earth is very hot. Water is often channeled through the pipes to absorb that heat. This type of energy can be expensive and difficult to reach the heat.22
Nuclear power can produce tremendous amounts of energy almost twice as much as coal could produce. The energy from the uranium does not pollute or add to global warming. Although uranium is highly efficient, the waste material nuclear power plants produce is quite hazardous. Nuclear power is risky because of the danger of the possibility of having an accident makes it hazardous. It could explode and spew out if the core gets overheated. Another danger is the spent uranium is highly radioactive even though it is no longer useful.23
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