Assignment on the Fossil Fuels and Environment

Introduction of Fossil Fuels and Environment

In general, fossil fuels are liquid, gas, or rock-like resources, burned for the generation of power. Commonly, they include oil, natural gas, and coal. These are utilised as a source of energy in sectors of transportation and electricity. In spite of their different usages and benefits in terms of energy development, they are also one of the key contributors to the global warming pollution.

Burning Fossil Fuels of Fossil Fuels and Environment

            When these natural resources are burned, they seem to emit harmful components in air such as carbon dioxide. These are adversely pollutants to the environment and these emissions become the cause of different environmental and public health costs, borne at international, national, regional, and local levels.

Global Warming Emission of  Fossil Fuels and Environment

            The most serious health and environmental risk caused by burning fossil fuels is global warming due to its potentially irreversible and universal consequences. For instance, 2014, 78 percent of the global warming emissions in the US were carbon dioxide emissions related to energy purposes. Out of this, 42 percent was from liquids and oil, 27 percent caused by natural gas, and 32 percent caused by coal (Mgbemene, 2011).

            Energy generation techniques non-reliant on fossil fuel energy such as geothermal, solar, and wind contributed below 1 percent of the global warming emissions. In fact, even while considering the complete lifecycle emissions of carbon in all energy sources, natural gas, oil, and gas tend to stand out with higher emissions of greenhouse gas. They also contribute significantly to the rise in sea levels.

Air pollution of Fossil Fuels and Environment

            A number of air pollutants are emitted by burning fossil fuels that are adversely influential to both the public health and the environment.

Sulphur Dioxide: The emissions of sulphur dioxide are resulted from burning coal. It contributes significantly to acid rain along with the development of harmful matter. Additionally, emissions of sulphur dioxide are capable of exacerbating respiratory ailments such as pulmonary inflammation, nasal congestion, and asthma.

Nitrogen Oxides: Emissions of nitrogen oxides are a by-product of combustion of fossil fuel and they contribute to smog or ground-level ozone and acid rain that are capable of burning lung tissues and making people susceptible to bronchitis and asthma among other chronic respiratory illnesses.

Particulate Matter: Generally, emissions of particulate matter create haze and they can cause aggravated asthma and chronic bronchitis. The effects are quite serve among the elderly and children.

Mercury: Emissions of mercury are caused by coal-fired plants. As mercury sets on the ground, it tends to wash into water bodies. Thus, it is consumed by fish and passed to other animals. Consumptions of such animals has been shown to cause neurobehavioral and neurological effects (Zecca & Chiari, 2010).

Water Use of Fossil Fuels and Environment

            In the US, electricity demand is seemingly colliding with the demand for abundant and healthy freshwater. Across the nation, it has been determined that nuclear power and fossil fuel plants withdraw water as much as every farm and four times the water that is consumed by all residences. In addition to it, power plants returning water to nearby lakes, ocean, or rivers can adversely influence wildlife through thermal pollution.

Thermal Pollution of Fossil Fuels and Environment

            Normally, thermal pollution takes place because of water quality degradation because of changes in the temperature of water. On the temperature of water sources, some power plants seem to have large effects, especially coal plants. Since heated water has low dissolved oxygen levels, its introduction to water ecosystem can significantly stress wildlife. It serves to decrease fish fertility (Helm, 2017).

Coal Waste of Fossil Fuels and Environment

            Actually, coal is recognised as a dirty fuel because of its toxic heavy metals and high carbon content. If the coal seems to contain high sulphur levels, it has to be refined and cleaned before it is utilised in a power plant and this process seems to involve washing and crushing the coal for removing all waste materials. It tends to leave behind a watery waste that seems to contain heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, mercury, and arsenic.

Gas and Oil Wastewater of Fossil Fuels and Environment

When gas and oil are extracted, previously trapped water within different geologic formations is actually brought to the surface. It is capable of carrying dissolved solids, radioactive materials, hydrocarbons, and even heavy metals which make it unsuitable and inadequate for consumption by humans.

Gas and oil wastewater is also capable of influencing aquatic wildlife. Grease and oil leaked into different water systems can easily adhere to waterfowl and fish while destroying plankton and algae. Thus, it disrupts the primary sources of food for fragile ecosystems. Passing through the food chain, it is capable of adversely influencing larger animals and humans as well.

International and Regional Practices of Fossil Fuels and Environment

            Both internationally and in the US, there are some certain limits up to which fossil fuel can be consumed and programmes are implemented which can serve to mitigate their effects on the environment. But governments are still grappling with legislations for driving reductions in emissions and increase in awareness about environmental sustainability (Covert, Greenstone, & Knittel, 2016).

Recommendations of Fossil Fuels and Environment

·         An international policy should be made for using energy-efficient vehicles.

·         There must be intense focus on fining and charging companies that make the use of fossil fuels more than a specific limit.

·         The US government must make the use of alternative sources for producing energy such as solar power and wind mills.

·         Transportation system should be made more energy-efficient.

·         Worldwide programmes should be held for raising awareness about environmental sustainability.

Conclusion of Fossil Fuels and Environment

            Overall, it can be said that environment is affected adversely by burning fossil fuels. In fact, if significant measures are not considered, there will be an intense rise in global warming and sea levels. It is important for all nations to make the use of sustainable sources for producing electricity instead of fossil fuels.

References of Fossil Fuels and Environment

Covert, T., Greenstone, M., & Knittel, C. R. (2016). Will we ever stop using fossil fuels? Journal of Economic Perspectives, 30(1).

Helm, D. (2017). Burn out: The endgame for fossil fuels. Yale University Press.

Mgbemene, C. A. (2011). The effects of industrialization on climate change. Fulbright Alumni Association of Nigeria 10th Anniversary Conference Development, Environment and Climate Change: Challenges for Nigeria, University of Ibadan, 12-15.

Zecca, A., & Chiari, L. (2010). Fossil-fuel constraints on global warming. Energy Policy, 38(1), 1-3.