Fossil fuels environmental problems

Acid rain is the popular term for a very complex environmental problem. Over the past 25 years, evidence has accumulated on changes in aquatic life and soil pH in Scandinavia, Canada, and the northeastern United States. Many believe that these changes are caused by acidic deposition traceable to pollutant acid precursors that result from the burning of fossil fuels. Acid rain is only one component of acidic deposition, a more appropriate description of this phenomenon. Acidic deposition is the combined total of wet and dry deposition, with wet acidic deposition being commonly referred to as acid rain. 

The increasing number of atomic reactors used for power generation has been questioned from several environmental points of view. A modern atomic plant, as shown in Fig. 28-3, appears to be relatively pollution free compared to the more familiar fossil fuel-fired plant, which emits carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, hydrocarbons, and fly ash. However, waste and spent-fuel disposal problems may offset the apparent advantages. These problems (along with steam generator leaks) caused the plant shown in Fig. 28-3 to close permanently in 199T. 

See also Coal, Production of Coal, Transportation and Storage of Environmental Problems and Energy Use Fossil Fuels. 

Since the 1970s, technological advances have solved many environmental problems associated with energy production and consumption, and proven that more energy consumption does not necessarily mean more pollution. The fossil fuel industries are producing and distributing more energy less expensive-... 

The world s overdependence on fossil fuels has created environmental problems, such as air pollution and global warming, as well as political and economic unrest. LUith water as its only by-product and its availability in all parts of the world, hydrogen promises to be the next great fuel source. 

The two most important environmental hazards faced by humankind today are air pollution and global warming. Both have a direct link with our current overdependence on fossil fuels. Pollutants produced from combustion of hydrocarbons now cause even more health problems due to the urbanization of world population. The net increase in environmental carbon dioxide from combustion is a suspect cause for global warming, which is endangering the Earth—the only known place to support human life. In addition, the import of expensive hydrocarbon fuel has become a heavy burden on many countries, causing political and economic unrest. 

Many environmental problems are the result of finding, transporting and burning fossil fuels. But, when hydrogen is used as a fuel, its by-product is essentially water vapor. When hydrogen is burned in the... 

Another problem associated with fossil fuel combustion is the greenhouse effect, which brings up critical environmental concerns. 

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