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The Effects of Fossil Fuels on the Environment

The human race runs on fossil fuels. Many of the luxuries we rely on--including gasoline for cars and home heating--come directly from resources such as oil, coal and natural gas. The burning of fossil fuels, while providing us with convenient energy, can have serious effects on the environment. Knowing these effects will help clarify the importance of how alternative, clean energy sources are essential to life on the planet.

  1. Global Warming

    • Global warming is still debated among scientists and politicians, but the belief that the burning of fossil fuels contributes to this phenomenon is one that has gained much popularity over the past several years. Fossil fuels produce a large amount of carbon dioxide when burned. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels acts as a greenhouse gas that traps heat inside the earth's atmosphere. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 25 percent in the past 150 years, according to the council. If the trend in global warming continues as expected, the surface of the earth could become even warmer without drastic cuts in fossil fuel usage. A continuing increase in greenhouse gases could result in rising sea levels due to melting glaciers, the inundation of wetlands and river deltas, and more extreme weather events such as an increase in serious drought conditions.

    Smog and Acid Rain

    • The air you breathe simply isn't as clean as it used to be. Air pollution comes from a variety of sources, and one of the main contributors is the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur and hydrocarbons all result from fossil fuels and they all contribute to air pollution. Breathing this polluted air can result in physical symptoms such as headaches and asthma. Polluted air can also be a problem for those with heart conditions. Factory emissions as well as that of the countless numbers of automobiles on the road create tropospheric ozone, which results in smog often seen around cities. The nitrogen oxide in the air reacts to the air in the environment, causing acid rain.

    Water Pollution

    • Since oil is such an important fuel in today's world, it is constantly being drilled for and taken in unimaginable quantities from the ocean floor and elsewhere. During the transportation of this oil or during drilling, it is reasonable to expect regular accidents where oil is spilled into otherwise clean water supplies. These oil spills result in the deaths of plants and animals and can leave area resources unusable and unlivable for long periods of time.

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