The Environmental Impacts of Coal

When discussing the environmental impacts of coal, it's important to divide the subject between mining and burning coal. Both are crucial in using coal for electricity, but there is a difference in the types of pollution that are created.

With surface mining, habitat loss and water quality are the environmental concerns. Mining companies are required to reclaim the land, and once that is done, the land can be used to benefit local communities. Some reclaimed surface mining sites have been turned into airplane strips, shopping centers, or even golf courses. Underground mines have less impact on the trees and animals that live on the surface of the mountain, but there is a potential for the mine to collapse. Also, the exposed minerals in the mining tunnels can lead to acidic water drainage and leak methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas.

Once the coal is burned, particles and gasses are released into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and mercury are some of the air pollutants released when burning coal. Coal-burning power plants are required to create ways to minimize some of the impacts of these types of pollutants. Technologies to reduce particulates, capture carbon, and burn coal more efficiently have all been developed.

Click the image below to be redirected to the PBS Learning Media webpage and learn more about how coal impacts the environment.

The Geology of Coal | PBS LearningMediaIn this video, a geologist describes how coal, a sedimentary rock, was formed when organic materials piled up in swamps millions of years ago. Over time, heat and pressure transformed the buried materials into peat and into various forms of coal. The geologist shows samples of low- and high-sulfur coal. High-sulfur coal contains a lot of pyrite, which is a mixture of sulfur, iron, and traces of other minerals. As long as it is underground, this mixture causes no environmental problems. But when it is exposed to air through mining, the pyrite rusts and forms sulfate salts on the coal's surface that can contaminate water. This resource is part of the Water Solutions collection. This video is available in both English and Spanish audio, along with corresponding closed captions.

The Acid Rain Experiment - Environmental Impacts of Coal Activity

Acid rain is an environmental problem that occurs from burning fossil fuels like coal and oil. Pollution occurs in the air due to nitrogen and sulfur being released when these natural resources are burned and mixed with the moisture in the air. This experiment is designed to simulate acid rains impact on plant vegetation.

Materials Needed:

Paper and pencil to record data
Two plants or cuttings from house plants
Spray bottle
Water
Vinegar
Masking tape
Pen or Marker

Procedure:

Gather two plants or cuttings off a house plant to use for the experiment.
Using masking tape and a pen or marker, label which plant you will give pure water and which plant you will give vinegar water.
Fill the spray bottle with water.
Water the plant that will only receive water. Make sure to spray the leaves and soil. Count the number of times sprayed to keep the experiment accurate.
Pour 3 tablespoons of vinegar into the remaining water in the spray bottle.
Shake the mixture and water the other plant. Spray the leaves and soil. Use the same amount of sprays as with the first plant.
Rinse the spray bottle.
Create a data sheet and write a sentence or two about what you think will happen.
Let it sit overnight.
On your data sheet, record any change the next day. You can draw the plant or take photos.
Repeat each day for one to two weeks.
Write a conclusion on your data sheet. What changes occurred to the plants? If changes occurred, why do you think they happened?

Gather supplies: Vinegar, water, spray bottle, two small plants or house plant cuttings, masking tape, pen or marker

Label one jar vinegar water and one jar as water.

Put pure water into the spray bottle.

Spray the plant leaves and soil with pure water. Count the number of sprays for accuracy.

Put at least 3 Tablespoons of vinegar into the spray bottle.

Spray the leaves and soil. Using the same number of sprays as the first plant.

*Create a data sheet, predict what will happen, record data daily, and repeat for one to two weeks.