Environmental Problems Associated with Fossil Fuel Use

Environmental Problems Associated with Fossil Fuel Use 

One of the main problems associated with the burning of fossil fuels is that even though they are abundant in Earth s crust, they are also finite. Fossil fuels originate from ancient plant and animal life and are a nonrenewable energy source—once they are all burned, they cannot be replenished. At current rates of consumption, oil and natural gas supplies will be depleted in 50 to 100 years. While there is enough coal to last much longer, it is a dirtier fuel (it produces more pollution) and, because it is a solid, is less convenient (more difficult to transport and use) than petroleum and natural gas. 

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Environmental Problems Associated with Fossil-Fuel Use Global Warming... 

What are the environmental problems associated with fossil-fuel use ... 

Despite being recognized as far back as the 1870s, the environmental problems associated with acid rain came to the fore in the 1960s with the decline of fish stocks in European and North American lakes. Two of the major contributors towards acid rain are SO2 and NO . (In Section 25.8, we discuss the use of catalytic converters to combat pollution due to nitrogen oxides, NOj .) Although SO2 emissions arise from natural sources such as volcanic eruptions, artificial sources contribute 90% of the sulfur in the atmosphere. Fossil fuels such as coal contain 2-3% sulfur and combustion produces SO2. This is being countered by the recovery of sulfur from petroleum (Fig. 16.2). Sulfur dioxide is released when metal sulfide ores are roasted in the production of metals such as Co, Ni, Cu and Zn, for example ... 

Biomass is the sustainable substitute to petroleum for the production of industrial organic chemicals, fuels, and other goods. Biorefineries will also reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with a more sustainable resource supply. On the other hand, bio-based fuels and products may also lead to environmental problems, eutrophication of water, or land use. There are three categories of maximum environmental impact that may be associated with a biorefinery product carcinogenicity, fossil fuel use, and respiratory effects. 

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