Fossil fuels include common sources of energy such as coal and natural gas. These fuel sources developed thousands–sometimes millions–of years ago, depending upon the type. The energy output varies with the material, with peat producing the least amount of energy and the lowest amount of carbon. The pollution resulting from fossil fuels is caused by the toxic emissions they release. fossil fuel combustion releases carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, methane and other emissions in the air. Although some of these chemicals are naturally occurring, the high concentrations cause pollution and its effects.
Significance
* Although some emissions from fossil fuels have been reduced, total emissions increased in the United States from 1990 through 2007. The trend threatens to continue as populations grow, causing an increased dependency on fossil fuels, according to the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
Sources
* The primary sources of pollution caused by fossil fuels are industry and vehicle exhaust. Coal production is a lucrative and important source of revenue for the United States and other coal-producing countries. In 2008, U.S. coal production topped 1 million tons, according to figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The potential for development exists within 38 states. The pollution caused by fossil fuels depends upon the type of coal burned. Anthracite coals, for instance, contain high levels of sulfur. Sulfur dioxide is a primary component of acid rain.
The Essay on Fuel Oil Petroleum Nuclear Energy
Limited Petroleum Reserves: Is Nuclear Energy an Alternative The twentieth century has been the age of petroleum. Oil in its various refined derivative forms, such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fuel, has a unique combination of many desirable and useful characteristics. These include a current availability in abundance, a currently high net energy recovery, a high energy density, ease of ...
Environmental Effects
* One of the more serious consequences of pollution caused by fossil fuels is global warming or climate change. Fossil fuel combustion introduces the so-called greenhouse gases into the air. Scientists believe that carbon and other emissions in the atmosphere created ground level ozone. This layer traps heat at the Earth’s surface, causing land and water temperatures to rise. These temperature increases in turn cause sea levels to rise due to melting ice caps. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), rising ocean waters cause shorelines to erode at a rate of up to 3 feet a year.
Other Effects
* Fossil fuel combustion directly impacts the air, causing widespread pollution. However, chemical reactions in the atmosphere can also lead to harmful effects on land and in water resources. Acid rain, for example, is the product of a chemical reaction involving sulfur dioxide and atmospheric moisture. The resulting acidic precipitation contaminates aquatic environments and pollutes soils.
Prevention/Solution
* Reduction in fossil fuel emissions can lessen or even prevent the impacts of the resulting pollution. Through stricter regulations and enforcement, positive results have already occurred. Sulfur dioxide emissions are more than 70 percent lower based on EPA data from 1980 to 2008. As a result, the environmental effects of acid rain have abated. Since fossil fuels are composed primarily of carbon, other ways, such as development of alternative sources of energy, offer more practical solutions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Although fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas are extremely useful important sources of energy, the environment does pay a price, so it is important to understand the sources and chemistry of pollution and how its effects can be minimized. Pollutants from fossil fuel burning in power stations and automobile transport include carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides and these in turn through photochemical reactions can produce ozone and other harmful irritant gases.
The Essay on Uses Of Fossil Fuel
Fossil fuels consist of coal, petroleum and natural gas that are found under the earth’s surface, formed from billions of years of compression and decomposition of dead plant and animal matter. They are the leading source of energy for the mankind and are used for various purposes like energy for transportation, electricity, manufacturing process and also used in the manufacturing process of day ...
The release of undesirable substances such as dust, smoke and harmful gases in the atmosphere is called air pollution and these undesirable substances are called pollutants.
One of the major causes of pollution of the atmosphere is the combustion of fossil fuels to meet our daily requirements of energy.
Fossil fuels cause air pollution in the following ways:
1. The combustion of fossil fuels results in the formation of carbon dioxide, which is released into the atmosphere. Thus, concentration of CO2 is increasing in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide has to ability to absorb infrared radiation emitted by the earth and re-radiate it back. This effect is known as ‘greenhouse effect’. It is speculated that if the concentration of CO2 in atmosphere increases significantly this could have thee effect of increasing the average temperature of the earth.
2. Combustion of coal, gasoline and other fossil fuels in the presence of insufficient supply of oxygen liberates carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbons. Carbon monoxide (CO) combines with hemoglobin in the blood to form carboxy-haemoglobin and makes it incapable of transporting oxygen. Many hydrocarbons are carcinogenic and hence, are serious health hazards.
3. Coal contains some compounds of sulphur and nitrogen. During combustion these compounds are oxidized to from the oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, which are corrosive and poisonous. During rains these oxides dissolve in rain water and are known to cause ‘acid rain’.
4. When gasoline burns in internal combustion engines, a very high temperature is produced, at this high temperature, nitrogen and oxygen combine to form oxides of nitrogen such as NO and NO2. These oxides are highly poisonous and cause many respiratory problems. Moreover, gasoline also contains some additives such as a tetraethyl lead [(C2H5)4Pb]. Tetraethyl lead is added to gasoline to reduce knocking (irregular combustion).
During combustion it produces volatile lead compounds which are released in the air. These compounds are highly poisonous and cause serious pollution.
The Essay on Hydrogen Compounds Gas Fuel
Hydrogen Hydrogen is a tasteless, odorless, colorless gas. Hydrogen is found in group 1 and period 1 on the periodic table. Hydrogen is classified as a nonmetal on the periodic table. The symbol for hydrogen is represented by an H, its atomic number is 1, and its atomic weight is 1. 0079. The hydrogen atom consists of one proton, which has a positive charge, and one electron, which has a negative ...
It may be mentioned here that the pollution caused by burning oil based products is more difficult to control than that produced by burning of coal. This is due to the reason that oil based fuels such as gasoline and diesel are burnt in moving vehicles. On the other hand coal is burnt mainly in factories and thermal plants which cause pollution at a particular place. This pollution can be controlled more easily by installing tall chimneys and electrostatic precipitators. In addition, burning of gasoline also produces poisonous lead compounds. This type of pollution is not caused by burning of coal.
