Oftentimes when we see the word clean we think of something pure, uncontaminated, not damaging. Such as the term "clean living" we think of healthy living. On the internet you see many people trying to remove products from the shelf such as baby products that contain cancerous ingredients or snacks that contain red 40. Would you label these items "clean snacks" because they are 10% less harmful to our bodies than another brand?Therefore can something be labeled clean if its still harmful?
When you think of clean energy what comes to mind? For me, clean energy includes solar energy, wind power, and bioenergy. Did "clean" coal cross your mind? Of course not because the term clean coal is misleading.How could something be labeled clean but have negative effects on the environment? Some of the negative effects are " water and air pollution, occupational hazards due to exposure of workers to pollution, high risk of developing a disease in the near residents, changes in the traditional values of a society, and biodiversity loss" (Plosone, 2023)
Overall, no method that causes that much damage can be classified as clean, although some methods may be considered less damaging, such as the Petra Nova project in Texas that captures CO2. Of course the factory is helping prevent air pollution to an extent but there is still pollution taking place. Brad Plumer states "Mining for coal remains a highly polluting practice, often damaging streams and waterways". Therefore regardless of how "clean" they try to make the coal process land is still being stripped and deforestation, water is still being filled with debris and chemicals, and the air is still being polluted with various chemicals. One of the most damaging processes of coal is during the burning of coal. "Coal is the largest source of energy for generating electricity in the world, and the most abundant fossil fuel in the United States." (national geographic, 2023) Therefore it is widely used but when getting burned what is it releasing other than energy related power? It's releasing sulfur dioxide which is connected to acid rain, and respiratory illnesses. Along with nitrogen oxides and particulates which can result in smog that is intense air pollution, illnesses and diseases. " Mercury and other heavy metals, which have been linked to both neurological and developmental damage in humans and other animals. In 2022, CO2 emissions from burning coal for energy accounted for about 19% of total U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions and for about 55% of total CO2 emissions from the electric power sector."(EIA,2024) During each of those emissions those toxins listed are being released and we are breathing them in.
Let's go back to my introduction pointing out the difference is that the products we can choose not to purchase them to prevent coming in contact with potential harmful ingredients. In some way, coal pollution affects all of us, whether it is the air we breathe, the soil we grow on, or the water we drink.Thus, would you consider a toxic product which damages the environment, causing life-threatening illnesses and diseases or death as a clean product?Therefore, coal cannot be classified as clean if it is not clean. There are various methods happening in the coal industry to help reduce pollution especially with The Clean Air Act and The Clean Water Act. Along with the Petra Nova project mentioned above which was designed to capture CO2 and pumped underground. Another way is reclaiming past coal mine spots for airports, and landfills. There is ongoing research to find more ways to help reduce coal pollution. This does not make coal clean but it is on the path to a reduce the environmental impact that continues to happen when coal is mined and burned.
Resources
Henneman L, Choirat C, Dedoussi I, Dominici F, Roberts J, Zigler C. Mortality risk from United States coal electricity generation. Science. 2023 Nov 24;382(6673):941-946. doi: 10.1126/science.adf4915. Epub 2023 Nov 23. PMID: 37995235; PMCID: PMC10870829.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37995235/
Tianliang W, Aghalari Z, Mubanga R, Sosa-Hernandez JE, Martínez-Ruiz M, Parra-Saldívar R. Assessing environmental health impacts of coal mining exploitation in Iran: A Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) approach for environmental protection. PLoS One. 2023 Dec 7;18(12):e0293973. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293973. PMID: 38060573; PMCID: PMC10703329. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10703329/
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