The Coal Manufacturing Process and Its Impact

Coal mining and production expose large quantities of coal and coal combustion residues to the environment, affecting wildlife and ecosystems. One of the most immediate impacts of coal mining is forest degradation and barren landscapes. The accumulation of mine waste, prone to spontaneous combustion, often contains heavy metals that seep into groundwater and local water bodies. When coal interacts with water, it produces sulfuric acid, a toxin that poses a direct threat to aquatic life.

During transportation, coal dust mixes with vehicle emissions, deteriorating air and water quality. The fine particles from coal dust can block the pores on plant leaves, interfering with photosynthesis and respiration, which endangers vegetation. When burned, coal releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, trapping heat and contributing to global warming.

In addition, coal contains small amounts of radioactive substances like uranium and thorium. These radioactive materials can enter the air during combustion, leading to contamination. Crops in the vicinity of coal plants may also be affected by radioactive fly ash, further impacting food safety.

Coal-Fired Power Stations and Their Consequences

Coal-fired power plants are major contributors to environmental pollution. They release fly ash through smokestacks, leave ash residues at the bottom after burning, and emit waste gases from scrubber units. A large portion of these pollutants eventually find their way into lakes and water bodies, contaminating drinking water supplies and harming aquatic ecosystems. The release of carbon into the atmosphere from coal combustion leads to adverse climate effects such as droughts, rising sea levels, floods, and extreme weather events.

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, byproducts of coal burning, are key components in the formation of acid rain. This acidification harms both water bodies and coastal ecosystems, reduces agricultural yields, and causes algae blooms that deplete marine biodiversity.

Reducing Coal Residue Emissions: A Complex Challenge

Efforts to minimize fly ash and other pollutants from coal production have proven costly and complex. Technologies like baghouses, scrubbers, and electrostatic precipitators are used to collect ash, but these solutions are not always effective or feasible. Additionally, alternative methods such as incineration, stabilization, vitrification, and washing are employed for ash disposal, though they do not entirely resolve the issue. The technology needed to capture and store the carbon dioxide produced during coal combustion is still in development and may not be available for many years.

As coal production continues to expand in India, the harmful environmental impacts will increase proportionately. Without effective methods to curb emissions, coal production will remain a significant threat to both human health and the environment.