P/N/12. The environmental effects of coal burning: global warming and acid rain are threats to humanity

The paper addresses the problems ensued by using coal as a major fossil fuel. While burning, it emits gasses pernicious for the environment. These are the so-called greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O, Ch4); acid gases (SO2, NOx, HCI) and particulate matter (PM10) that may cause lung disease in humans. Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation of the sunlight trapping it in the atmosphere. The increase in their concentration leads to global warming with major risks of floods, massive rainfalls, etc. that disrupt ecosystems, damage plants and animals and create major food and health problems. Acid rain, the paper goes on to say, results in pollution caused by sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and ozone emitted by fossil fuel burning. Acidification of water is harmful to aquatic organisms and destroys ecosystems creating risks of consuming contaminated fish, threatening reduction of forest productivity, etc. All this, the paper concludes, affects the life of human population and causes major concerns of the government.