Coal Flames: Safety Hazards

Coal flame gas releases 40 to 50 different harmful compounds when it ignites. Many of the compounds have toxic qualities, with some being carcinogenic. Carbon monoxide, benzene and hydrogen sulfide have caused illness and deaths among the population. Coal flame gas and particulates can cause serious heart and respiratory problems. Coal burning on a global level has had negative impact results on the environment, including the air and delicate ecosystems where animal and plant life have been affected.

Public Health

• Coal flames produce enormous quantities of dangerous pollutants that, when breathed or ingested by humans, can cause pulmonary-respiratory failure, heart attack, bronchitis, lung cancer and stroke. Many of the particulates and heavy metals from coal flame combustion contain chemicals that alter and destroy the body's cells. Power plant coal pollution produces 38,200 nonfatal heart attacks each year while people suffer over 554,000 asthma conditions. Breathing coal flame gas from even a barbecue can cause nauseousness and death, due to high carbon monoxide levels.

Environmental Ecosystems

• Coal flame gases release dangerous pollutants into the environment and ecosystems. Spontaneous coal fires that ignite on a daily bases around the world contribute to acid rain, soot and other heavy metal constituents that pollute rivers, streams, lakes, coastline habitats populated by marine life and farmland. These substances pollute and poison the water systems and flora, upon which human and animal life depend upon for sustenance. Wetlands, forests and marsh areas contain delicate ecosystems that must remain in balance. When subjected to coal gas pollution, the smallest of creatures and plant life become affected.

Atmosphere

• Coal fire flames produce pollutants that rise high into the atmosphere and travel great distances, effecting virtually all continents. Traveling on the wind currents, coal pollutants produce large quantities of greenhouse gases that contain sulfur dioxide, mercury, nitrogen oxides, methane, soot and other particulate matter, which can and have caused respiratory problems. Most smog and acid rain have its origins from coal-related burning. Brown skies result from excessive coal burning, directly affecting aircraft visibility and sometimes engine performance. Coal burning on a global scale has been linked to global warming where the pollutants act as a containment barrier that entraps heat close to the surface of the earth. The excess heat encourages the premature melting of ice caps and glaciers, responsible for destructive high tides and ocean level rise.

Mining Disasters

• Nearly all mining disasters can be attributed to the spontaneous or accidental combustion of coal dust, which ignites and then explodes. Mine shafts, coal veins and repositories, which can be very deep and confined within small passage areas, can explode with tremendous pressure, causing landslides, sinkholes and major land deformation. Coal dust, roused by the activity of coal excavation machinery, becomes very flammable when exposed to any open flame or static electricity source. Such explosions have caused serious mining disasters, resulting in the loss of life.