How does the burning of fossil fuels pollute the air??

Answer 1

Major cause of pollution occurs by the use of coal in the production of electricity, manufacturing idusties, and the automobiles.

The production of electricity is the highest contibutor mainly because of the use of coal in the process. Other fossil fuels, such as gas and oil, also contribute to pollution, but in most cases, as these fules are refined, the effect is not so drastic

Coal for most part is burned in its raw state, thus it releases chemicals such as carbon dioxide—a primary contributor to global warming. Coal also produces nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrocarbons, dust, soot, smoke, and other suspended matter which are not good for our health and the ecosystem.

Sulphar is one of the prime pollutants released by burning of coal. It causes acid rain, which damages our health and the health of our greenary.

Coal also contains the non-combustiable items like Ash which can be as high as 10% in its unrefined state. The best way to undedstand ash is to see the remains of a campfire. It is the grey material which does not burn and remains in its fine powdery form after the fire goes out. What do you think happens to this material once it enters the air? It remains in the air which we breath.


In addition to coal, natural gas and oil are also used in the production of electricity. These two fuels are less damaging to the enviorment but still contribute significantly to the pollution. They too produce various greenhouse gases and add to the enviormental damage.

The other example of fossil fuels causing damage to the enviorment is from the exhaust of automobiles. Although for the most part gasolines which burns in the engines of cars, is refined and is supposed to check pollution, still these systems are not 100% fool-proof. Considerable amount of lead, carbon monoxide, and other lethal gases enter our atmosphere never the less. Thus creating situations such as depletion of the ozone layer, smog, etc.

There are other process, of course, where the burning of fossil fuels contribute to the pollution of our air, but the above examples are the main culprits.

Answer 2

. Fossil fuels, when burned, release carbon dioxide into the air. This carbon dioxide had been burind in the ground. Now it is in the air, contributing to the green house effect.
. Some fossil fuels have sulfur or heavy metals in them which also get released into the atmosphere. Coal releases a lot of silica dust when it is burned in older style furnaces. Most of the sulfur can be trapped using exhaust scrubbing equipment. Research is under way to find ways to capture the heavy metals before they go up the chimney.
. When fuels are burned, the heat of burning causes nitrogen in the air which supports combustion to combine with atmospheric oxygen, creating nitrogen/oxygen compounds called NOx. These can be NO2, NO3 or NO4. They then go up into the atmosphere where they combine with other gases to create smog. The creation of NOx can be reduced by carefully controlling the amount of air fed into the furnace, but it cannot be eliminated.
. Use of gasoline, natural gas, methane and propane also release CO2 and NOx.

Answer 3

The burning of fossil fuels by humans is the largest source of emissions of carbon dioxide, which is one of the greenhouse gases that allows radiative forcing and contributes to global warming. A small portion of hydrocarbon-based fuels are biofuels derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide, and thus do not increase the net amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Environmental effects
In the United States, more than 90% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the combustion of fossil fuels.[1] In addition other air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, VOCs, and heavy metals are produced.

It is not as commonly known that radioactive materials are also produced, mainly uranium and thorium, and released directly into the atmosphere. In 2000, about 12,000 metric tons of thorium and 5,000 metric tons of uranium were released worldwide from burning coal.[2] It is estimated that during 1982, US coal burning released 155 times as much radioactivity into the atmosphere as the Three Mile Island incident.[3]

Environmental regulation uses a variety of approaches to limit these emissions, such as command-and-control (which mandates the amount of pollution or the technology used), economic incentives, or voluntary programs.

Answer 4

carbon dioxide is released.....CO2.

oil, coal, even diamonds are nothing more than plants and animals that died long ago and as new dirt is placed on the earth in the form of dust of the years, the pressure of the earth transforms these items into their basic principles. carbon.

when you burn these items to gain heat and energy to use as a fuel or energy source, the carbon is then released. once released it mixes with the air which is oxygen and then becomes CO2 gas.

Answer 5

this site will be very helpful.

http://library.thinkquest.org/20331/types/pollute.html


Carbon dioxide is not the only byproduct of direct combustion of fuel. Small "particulates" that can become imbedded in the human respiratory system are also emitted. Particulates can cause coughing and damage to the lungs. Further, they can lead to cancer and lung disease.

Carbon monoxide is produced when less oxygen is available in the immediate area. Carbon monoxide is more directly harmful to humans because it is odorless, colorless, and reduces the body's ability to transport oxygen. This leads to fatigue, nausea, and headaches (flu-like symptoms).

Answer 6

I would say burning fuels in cars and factories put nitrogen into the air

Answer 7

Not only it generate the pollution to air....it also created other envornimental hazards...such as nano and micro dust particals, toxic gases...sourround 5km. it produce carbon and other unwanted substance by buring...

Answer 8

Hi. It takes carbon that has been locked in the soil for a long time and releases it into our atmosphere in a short time.

Answer 9

gases go into the air

Answer 10

fossil fuels...coal ,oil.....and my last answer is yes!