About three-quarters of the anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere during the past 20 years have been due to fossil-fuel burning. Activities consuming fossil fuels include power generation, industrial/manufacturing processes, transport. The rest of carbon dioxide emissions are predominantly due to land-use change, especially deforestation.

The main drawback of fossil fuels is pollution. Burning any fossil fuel mainly produces carbon dioxide, which contributes to the “greenhouse effect”, warming the Earth. It produces more carbon dioxide than burning oil or gas. It also produces sulphur dioxide, a gas that contributes to acid rain. We can reduce this before releasing the waste gases into the atmosphere. It is a leading cause of smog, global warming, and air toxics.

Coal is Nasty

Coal is particularly nasty. The attraction to coal is powerful and obvious. According to the World Coal Association, it has been estimated that there are over 847 billion tonnes of proven coal reserves worldwide. This means that there is enough coal to last us around 118 years at current rates of production. In contrast, proven oil and gas reserves are equivalent to around 46 and 59 years at current production levels. Unverified sources have claimed Pakistan has one of the largest coal (lignite) deposits in the world, consisting of 184,123 billion tons, which can produce 1,000,000 MW of electricity for next three hundred years.

Microscopic particles like sulphates and carbon released from coal-burning power plants and automobiles can reflect sunlight back into space, producing a cooling effect. This can in turn influence global wind circulation patterns that underlie the monsoon system.

One 500 MW power plant generates about 3 million tons of carbon dioxide every year. Other toxic byproducts include fine particulate matter, heavy metals like mercury, lead, chromium and nickel, trace elements such as arsenic and selenium, and various organics like dichloroethane, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and trichloroethylene.

Oxides of nitrogen and sulfur are common pollutants from coal, and are found at higher levels in anthracite than in bituminous coal.

Coal mining produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Methane is the naturally occurring product of the decay of organic matter as coal deposits are formed with increasing depths of burial, rising temperatures, and rising pressures over geological time. A portion of the methane produced is absorbed by the coal and later released from the coal seam and surrounding disturbed strata during the mining process.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, methane has a global warming potential 21 times greater than that of carbon dioxide on a 100 year time line. While burning coal in power plants is most harmful to air quality, due to the emission of dangerous gases, the process of mining can release pockets of hazardous gases.

Air Quality Isn’t Getting Any Better

The World Health Organization estimates more than 2 million people die every year from breathing in tiny particles present in indoor and outdoor air pollution. PM10 particles, which are particles of 10 micrometers or less, can penetrate into the lungs and may enter the bloodstream, can cause heart disease, lung cancer, asthma, and acute lower respiratory infections.

The WHO air quality guidelines for PM10 is 20 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) as an annual average, but the data released today shows that average PM10 in some cities has reached up to 300 µg/m3.

The Ozone Layer, which is so essential for life on earth, is unfortunately being depleted due to different kinds of pollutions. The global community, especially the developing countries are now facing the challenge of the elimination of Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) in the foam and refrigeration industry. It is a second kind of Ozone Depleting Chemical Substance which has low Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP), yet possesses high Global Warming Potential (GWP).

The Cost of Coal Power

The true cost of coal power is evident in the known health consequences of this toxic brew of air and water pollution. They contribution to health conditions are many, and include nervous system problems in infants and children, asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, a suite of cardiovascular problems and kidney disease. The environmental impacts are well documented, and are not pretty either.

• 3,700,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary human cause of global warming–as much carbon dioxide as cutting down 161 million trees.
• 10,000 tons of sulphur dioxide (SO2), which causes acid rain that damages forests, lakes, and buildings, and forms small airborne particles that can penetrate deep into lungs.
• 500 tons of small airborne particles, which can cause chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, and premature death, as well as haze obstructing visibility.
• 10,200 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx), as much as would be emitted by half a million late-model cars. NOx leads to formation of ozone (smog) which inflames the lungs, burning through lung tissue making people more susceptible to respiratory illness.
• 720 tons of carbon monoxide (CO), which causes headaches and place additional stress on people with heart disease.
• 220 tons of hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), which form ozone.
• 170 pounds of mercury, where just 1/70th of a teaspoon deposited on a 25-acre lake can make the fish unsafe to eat.
• 225 pounds of arsenic, which will cause cancer in one out of 100 people who drink water containing 50 parts per billion.
• 114 pounds of lead, 4 pounds of cadmium, other toxic heavy metals and trace amount of uranium.

Pollution from coal mining may have a negative impact on public health in mining communities, according to data analyzed in a West Virginia University research study. Miners in coal companies are on higher risk rather than people living away from mining areas. According to Hendryx, main researcher, the data show that people in coal mining communities:

• Have a 70 percent increased risk for developing kidney disease.
• Have a 64 percent increased risk for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as emphysema.
• Are 30 percent more likely to report high blood pressure (hypertension).

October is Children’s Health Month, and it’s a good time to focus our attention on cleaning up hazards that affect kids as they grow and develop.

Photo Credit: Asia Society
Photo Credit: World Coal Association

Written by Naseem Sheikh