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Photomicrograph made with a scanning electron microscope and back-scatter detector: cross section of fly ash particles. Fly ash, flue ash, coal ash, or pulverised fuel ash (in the UK)—plurale tantum: coal combustion residuals (CCRs)—is a coal combustion product that is composed of the particulates that are driven out of coal-fired boilers together with the flue gases.
A 2004 study commissioned by environmental groups, but contested by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, concluded that coal burning costs 24,000 lives a year in the United States. [30] More recently, an academic study estimated that the premature deaths from coal related air pollution was about 52,000 each year. [31]
Air pollution from this source has been reported in England since the Middle Ages. [7] [8] London, in particular, was notorious up through the mid-20th century for its coal-caused smogs, which were nicknamed "pea-soupers". Air pollution of this type is still a problem in areas that generate significant smoke from burning coal.
Since a large share of air pollution is caused by combustion of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, the reduction of these fuels can reduce air pollution drastically. Most effective is the switch to clean power sources such as wind power , solar power , hydro power which do not cause air pollution. [ 195 ]
Coal is pulverized and then burned to generate electricity. [2] The particles that remain after burning coal are called coal ash, principally consisting of fly ash and bottom ash. Other coal combustion by-products are boiler slag, flue gas desulfurization gypsum, and other kinds of flue gas desulfurization residues. [1]
[39] [40] In some towns and cities in New South Wales, wood smoke may be responsible for 60% of fine particle air pollution in the winter. [41] A year-long sampling campaign in Athens, Greece found a third (31%) of PAH urban air pollution to be caused by wood-burning, roughly as much as that of diesel and oil (33%) and gasoline (29%).
The combustion of coal releases diverse chemicals into the air. The main products are water and carbon dioxide, just like the combustion of petroleum. Also released are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, as well as some mercury. The residue remaining after combustion, coal ash often contains arsenic, mercury, and lead. Finally, the burning of ...
The use of coal as fuel causes health problems and deaths. [123] The mining and processing of coal causes air and water pollution. [124] Coal-powered plants emit nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate pollution, and heavy metals, which adversely affect human health. [124] Coal bed methane extraction is important to avoid mining accidents.