Effects of Burning Fossil Fuels

Introduction

Fossil Fuel is one of the widely used sources of producing energy. For a long time, fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas have been used in homes, industrial areas, for electricity generation and moving vehicles, etc. These fuels are cheap but cause several side effects on our health and the environment. The Fumes produced by these fuels are releasing pollutants like carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and toxins that generate around 44 health issues like heart problems, respiratory problems, asthma, Alzheimer’s, autism, etc. It not only produces health issues but many environmental issues like air pollution, water pollution, global warming, land degradation, etc.

What is Fossil Fuel?

Fossil Fuel are the fuels that are produced by the degradation of natural plants, animals, and microorganisms like blue-green algae that are buried under the earth and remain pressed and heated under the sedimentary rocks for millions and billions of years. First, these plants or animals changed into kerogen or oil shale then at high temperature changed into fossil fuels like coal, natural gases, and petroleum. Fossil fuels are composed of hydrocarbons.

Type of Fossil Fuel

There are three types of fossil fuels. These are.

Types of Fossil Fuels	Their Composition
Coal	Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Sulphur,
Natural Gas	Methane
Petroleum	Hydrocarbons

• Coal − It is a solid fuel that is produced by the decaying of plant vegetation. Coal is used widely in households, and industries for electricity generation and used in steam engines, etc. It is composed of hydrocarbons, carbon, hydrogen, sulphur, nitrogen, oxygen, etc. It is extracted through mining from coal mines under the earth.

• Natural Gas − It is a gaseous fuel. It is produced along with petroleum. The main component of natural gas is methane $\mathrm{CH_{4}}$ It is a lightweight, colourless, odourless, and highly flammable fuel. It is produced along with petroleum by the decaying of marine organisms.

• Petroleum − Petroleum is a widely used fuel globally. It is a liquid fuel extracted from the earth's crust. First, it is extracted from the earth's crusts and then sent to refineries, where products like kerosene, propane, and gasoline are extracted from the crude oil. The main component of petroleum is hydrocarbons. It is formed by the decaying of blue-green algae, marine organisms, etc. It is used in vehicles like cars, bikes, jets, for industrial purposes, etc.

Effects of Burning Fossil Fuel

These fossil fuels are used heavily for various purposes. We rely upon fossil fuels for cooking, travelling, industries, etc. The much usage of fossil fuels harms our environment and health in many ways. When we burn fossil fuel it produces gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide, lead, etc. Due to these gases, the global temperature is increasing from 0.3 𝑡𝑜 1⁰𝐶 on average. Although natural gases are clean energy sources, it is the fifth-largest producer of carbon emissions. Let’s see more side effects of burning fossil fuels.

• Air Pollution − The burning of fossil fuels produces various harmful gases like carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxides that are reducing the air quality and causing many health issues like respiratory problems, asthma, etc.

• Ocean Acidification − The burning of fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide at a much faster rate than any other decaying of plants or animals. These carbon dioxides get trapped in the environment in the air and water. Our sea absorbs these carbons emitted and forms carbonic acid, leading to a decreased ocean pH level. This is known as ocean acidification. This acidification leads to demolishing shells of sea animals and breaking the food chain of our environment.

• Global Warming − Fossil fuels are composed of hydrocarbons when these hydrocarbons burn, they produce a large amount of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide which are the major component of the greenhouse effect. Hence causing global warming.

• Oil Spills − Crude oils are transported via sea route from one place to another place. During transportation, sometimes the oils leak into seawater or accidentally ship drown in the sea causing a threat to marine life and water pollution in seawater.

• Acid Rain − The oxides of sulphur and nitrogen produced by the burning of fossil fuel get trapped in the air. These oxides get easily dissolved in the rainwater and thus cause the acidity of water. When it rains the water molecules of rain, and fog contains oxides of nitrogen and sulphur and hence acid rain.

• Water Pollution − Nitrogen is present in our environment at around 78% in the atmosphere, by the burning of fossil fuels the atmospheric nitrogen gets converted into nitrides. These nitrides get dissolved in water and other resources. Excess nitrogen leads to the rapid growth of these aquatic plants and organisms clog the water and use dissolved oxygen leads to marine life.

• Land Degradation − The mining and unearthing for producing fossil fuels lead to damage to landscapes by making wells, pipelines, etc. The waste generated by refineries is also dumped on earth causing pollution.

Facts About Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are produced by the decomposition of dead plants and animals over millions of years under the earth's crusts. It is the major source of energy production worldwide. There are a few facts you must know about fossil fuels. These are as follows.

• It comprises around 80% source of the energy used globally.

• These are produced by the decomposition of organic matter i.e., dead plants and animals under the earth's crust at high temperature and pressure.

• It is a non-renewable source of energy.

• We get several types of fuels through crude oil like gasoline, kerosene, and natural gas.

• The gasoline produced from the crude oil is used for transportation and energy production.

• Despite energy production, it is also used to produce various products of plastic components like water bottles and containers.

• Fossil fuel is used in a hefty amount, with this rate it will soon run out fast from the earth. According to some sources, fossil fuels will last for max 1000 years if we use them like this.

• These are more cost-efficient than other renewable energy sources.

Conclusion

In the above tutorial, we have read that fossil fuels are composed of hydrocarbons and produced naturally under the earth by the decomposition of dead animals and plants. It is used to produce energy all over the world. It is the cheapest source of energy. Excessive use of fossil fuels leads to many side effects on our health and environment. The burning of fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and gasoline lead to the generation of harmful gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and oxides of sulphur and nitrogen. These deleterious gases cause global warming, air and water pollution, land deterioration, a rise in sea level and many more effects on our environment and several health issues to our bodies.

FAQs

1. What is the combustion of fossil fuel?

The combustion of fossil fuel is the burning of natural gases, coal, and petroleum to produce energy that is used for transportation, and industrial purposes. It is one of the cheapest ways to produce energy.

2. What causes air pollution when burning fossil fuels?

When fossil fuels are burned, they produce carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and Particulates Matter (PM) that cause air pollution.

3. What is particulate matter released when burning fossil fuel?

When we burn fossil fuels like coal and petroleum do not burn properly it produces particulate matter. It is due to the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. PMs are solid particles or liquid droplets, or aerosols in the atmosphere. Particulate matter can be natural or manmade. The natural PM is volcanic ash, sea salt, man-made smog, and chemical mist, etc.

4. What are the side effects of Particulate matter produced by the burning of fossil fuel?

There are several side effects of particulate matter on human beings, if inhaled they cause issues in the respiratory tract and lungs. It is also carcinogenic.

5. What is the side effect of nitrogen as a pollutant?

Nitrogen is not a component of fossil fuel but when fuel is burned in a vehicle it produces oxides of nitrogen in the engine. The oxides of nitrogen i.e., 𝑁𝑂 𝑎𝑛𝑑 $\mathrm{NO_{2}}$ formed react with other pollutants and form smog. This smog causes several health issues like asthma and other respiratory issues. It is also one of the major components of acid rain.