2007-05-17 00:40:58 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
This depends on the fuel used to make electricity. Most plants in the USA use coal, which releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide... which isn't a dangerous chemical, but is a greenhouse gas, contributing to further warming of our planet. Coal power also releases lots of dangerous chemicals into the air which cause polluted rain (acid rain) and all of that. The coal mining process is also very detrimental to the local environments where it is mined. Consequently, we have the technology to capture almost all of the pollutants from coal, including carbon dioxide, without an huge extra cost. But we simply haven't implemented it yet.
Nuclear energy is clean, when everything is running as it should. But humans eventually make mistakes, and with nuclear fuel, the potential for radiation leakage is always possible.
Solar, wind and wave energy are all naturally-occurring and completely clean sources of power. We simply haven't put enough money into researching the best way to capture these sources, since fossil fuel is much easier and cost-effective to use.
2007-05-17 00:45:23 · answer #1 · answered by yodadoe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as far as i know, none.
because the main pollutants come from fossil fuel and nuclear power plants, which caused the destruction of chernobyl.
2007-05-17 07:43:48 · answer #2 · answered by Mang Pedro 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Acidic Smoke
2007-05-17 07:43:36 · answer #3 · answered by tom4bucs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is different according to the fuel used
it can be atomic wastes ,or exhaust gas or smoke
2007-05-17 07:44:55 · answer #4 · answered by knight 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CARBON and Carbon Dioxide.
2007-05-17 07:44:43 · answer #5 · answered by Nunyabusiness 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋