The Dangers of Fossil Fuel Use
explanatory Essay
681 words
The Dangers of Fossil Fuel Use
Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary defines the term fossil fuel as “a fuel, as coal, oil, or natural gas, that is formed in the earth from plant or animal remains.” The major fossil fuels include coal, petroleum, and natural gases. Here in the United States, and all over the world, fossil fuel functions as an extremely beneficial resource. We use gas to fuel our cars and depend on electricity produced from coal and oil to heat and cool our homes. But, these positive aspects do not come without drawbacks. Environmental health, climate change, acid rain, and air pollution are among the top problems with fossil fuel production and consumption.
(http://environment.about.com/library/weekly/aa050700.htm)
Fossil fuel use creates severe impact on the environment in all stages of use: recovery, transportation, preparation/refining, storage, and end use. Recovery, the first stage is basically the process of coal mining. This includes the destruction of topsoil, and the risk of gushers or accidents. Also, recovery leads to discolored local creeks and rivers because of the acidic run-off of these waters (Lecture 3/11/02).
Next, these resources must be transported all over the world, where they will go into the preparation and refining stage. During this stage, there is a risk that refuse or sludge will result from coal cleaning parts (Lecture 3/11/02). Also, air and water pollution may result from the process of petroleum refining, which involves the change of the chemical composition of petroleum to produce desirable chemicals and fuels. However, that means that the undesirable results are released to pollute the atmosphere. (Lecture 2/22/02)
After being properly refined, the resources are stored. This stage may cause environmental problems such as gasoline leaks in underground tanks at gas stations. Finally, end use results in the release of pollutants from combustion. These pollutants include unburnt hydrocarbons, particulate matter, such as ash or soot, and sulfur and nitrogen oxides (Lecture 3/11/02). The combination of these pollutants often results in smog, a problem most pressing in California (http://www.sparetheair.org/).
Major challenges exist concerning environmental problems with fossil fuel use. One challenge is to reduce fossil fuel use, in general, while also accommodating the increasing population and industrialization (Lecture 3/18/02). A second challenge is to remember to put human life before the need for industrialization. The National Resource Defense Council states that every year, some “64,000 people may die prematurely from cardiopulmonary causes linked to particulate air pollution".
In this essay, the author
- Defines the term fossil fuel as coal, oil, or natural gas, which is formed in the earth from plant or animal remains.
- Explains that fossil fuel use creates severe impact on the environment in all stages of use: recovery, transportation, preparation/refining, storage, and end use.
- Explains that resources must be transported all over the world, where they will go into the preparation and refining stage.
- Explains that after being properly refined, the resources are stored. this stage may cause environmental problems such as gasoline leaks in underground tanks at gas stations.
- Describes the major challenges that exist concerning environmental problems with fossil fuel use. they state that the national resource defense council states that 64,000 people may die prematurely from cardiopulmonary causes linked to particulate air pollution.
- Explains that the united states alone accounts for 25 % of the world’s fossil fuel derived emissions. in 1970, the clean air act was passed and amendments were added to this act in 1977 and 1980.
- Explains that in 1979, new source performance standards for utilities were introduced. in 1992, 106 countries participated in an earth summit in rio, and signed an international treaty to reduce carbon dioxide emission to 1990 levels.
- Opines that fossil fuels are a necessary part of our lives, but there must be motions toward more environmentally conscious terms of usage. the earth summit and kyoto protocol were steps in the right direction.
- Cites the national resource defenses council's "danger in the air".
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that fossil fuels were formed in prehistoric times from a material called peat, which over millions of years turned into coal, oil, petroleum or natural gas.
- Explains that oil is found underground in between rocks and in porous areas where the rocks contain the oil within. oil is pumped from the ground through oilrigs.
- Explains that coal is the most abundant fossil fuel in the united states. there are two techniques used in mining for coal: surface mining and underground mining.
- Explains that natural gas is considered the ideal fossil fuel to use since it is clean, easy to transport, and convenient.
- Explains that once the gas is produced and stored from underneath the surface it is sent by pipeline to storage facilities and then onto the user from those facilities. the united states has such a large pipeline network that gas can be transported to the lower 48 states.
- Explains the advantages of using fossil fuels, which gives it the highest consumption rate in today's day and age.
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1578 wordsRead More - Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuel Useexplanatory essayEnvironmental Impacts of Fossil Fuel Use One of the main issues involved with fossil fuels are the environmental impacts that occur from their use. These problems; such as acid rain, oil spills, climate change, global warming, etc., are not only occurring with fossil fuel usage, but are also increasing due to the increase in the use of fossil fuels. This essay will vaguely explain the area of environmental impacts from fossil fuel use, and will attempt to change, or further increase your understanding of the very serious environmental impacts that occur from fossil fuel use. One of the biggest environmental impacts which is steadily increasing in severity due to fossil fuel usage is global warming. Global warming is mainly caused due to the trapping of heat in the atmosphere due to increased amounts of carbon dioxide.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the environmental impacts of fossil fuel use, and explains how it affects the environment.
- Explains that global warming is mainly caused by the trapping of heat in the atmosphere due to increased amounts of carbon dioxide.
- Explains that burning fossil fuels increases the amount of chemicals in the atmosphere, leading to acid rain, lung disease, and cancer. smog is a problem in many cities.
- Explains that land and water pollution is caused by fossil fuels, such as oil spills and coal mining.
- Opines that fossil fuel use has an enormous array of environmental impacts which are only increasing in abundance due to the increase in energy use.
- Cites clean energy: the hidden cost of fossil fuels. union of concerned scientists, oct. 29, 2002.
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