Coal

Coal is extracted from the ground through various techniques including Mountaintop Removal which is shown in the picture on pg3. The MO process includes removing all trees from the landscape, and these are incinerated as deepholes are dug for blasting. Then these holes are filled with explosives and the mountains are blasted apart. Mountaintop Removal has an extremely negative impact on the wildlife and ecosystem. For example, in the past few decades, over 2000 miles of streams, and rivers that provide drinkwater have been destroyed.        Additionally, coal fired plants alone, emit mercury, sulfur-dioxide, nitrogen oxide, lead, cadmium, trace amounts of uranium, and arsenic into the atmosphere which ends up in the waterways, oceans, soil, and forests. This causes severe health issues such as destroying lung tissue, chronic bronchitis, asthma, cancer, heart disease, and brain damage.

Coal Combustion creates severe air pollution and emits large amounts of co2. The emissions include, Mercury, Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxide, Particulate matter. 114 lb of lead, 440,000 pounds of Volatile Organic Compounds, 225lb of Arsenic. In addition, the health risks associated with these emissions are severe. For example, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, 1/70 teaspoon of Mercury deposited in a 25 acre lake makes fish unsafe to eat. Nox and SO2 lead to the acidification of lakes, lung damage, respiratory diseases, and many others. Furthermore, they are a leading leader in co2 emissions which contribute to global warming.

Coal accounts for a extremely high portion of energy consumption.

Clean Coal, the energy sector's largest oxymoron is a statement made by the Coal Institute. It is claimed that it emits less chemicals such as arsenic, lead, and mercury into the atmosphere during combustion. One of their technologies called “coal washing” is when coal is crushed and mixed with water to remove the chemicals.  However, this is true because some of those chemicals are removed during the “cleaning process” are  dumped into the water supply instead of the air.