ENVR 1301- Lindsey Gaffney

  Air pollution basics:     Air pollution is the presence of dangerous substances in the air contributes to detrimental health and environmental effects. There are three categories for these substances. There are  sulfur pollutants, nitrogen pollutants, and hydrocarbon and volatile organic compound pollutants. Sulfur Pollutants           Sulfur pollutants are a significant component of air pollution. They include sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. These pollutants are primarily emitted from sources like fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes. When released into the atmosphere, SO2 and H2S undergo oxidation and eventually form sulfate ions, which are negatively charged. Sulfates can combine with various cations to create compounds, such as ammonium sulfate, contributing to fine particulate haze and reduced visibility, especially in urban areas. Sulfur pollutants can have severe environmental and health consequences, including t...

     Alternative energy, or renewable energy, refers to sources of energy that are considered environmentally friendly and sustainable because they have a significantly lower impact on the environment compared to traditional fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Renewable energy sources can be easily replenished . Some of these sources include solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and bioma ss. Alternative sources have a lot of benefits including a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, better air and water quality, reduced carbon footprint, and long-term sustainability.        Hydroelectric energy, often referred to as hydropower, is a well-established and widely used renewable energy source that harnesses the power of flowing water to generate electricity. According to energy.gov, “ all but two states (Delaware and Mississippi) use hydropower for electricity, some more than others. For example, in 2020 about 66%  of the state of Washin...

"Clean coal" has been taught to us to be a potential solution to make coal more environmentally friendly and less hazardous. The concept suggests that technology can make coal environmentally friendly, but when you examine the facts, it is clear there i s no such thing as "clean coal." According to odi.org, “ Even the most advanced coal plant  produces around 30 times more CO2  than wind and hydro, twenty times more than solar and geothermal, and 50% more than natural gas.” (How clean is clean coal?, n.d.).   Coal mining and combustion cause significant environmental harm. One of the key issues with coal is that it releases methane during extraction. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is even more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over a brief period. Methane emissions occur during coal mining operations, primarily through leaks and venting from underground mines. These emissions contribute to global warming and climate chang...

       Natural Resources are anything people take from the environment and use. (Brian A. Jerome & Visual Learning Systems, 2017). The first natural resource s are called renewable resources. These can be replaced by nature quickly and are also called inexhaustible. Examples of renewable resources in c lude wind, which can be converted into energy using wind turbines, the sun, which is converted into ener g y with solar panels, wood, ani ma l s , e t c. The second natural resource is nonrenewable resources. These cannot be replaced by nature or at least not fast enough to replenish with the demand we need them in. Once they are gone, they are gone forever. Nonrenewable resources include minerals like copper, rocks like marble, and fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are made from decomposing plants and animals. These include oil, gasoline, coal, and natur al gas.   R e sou r ce sustainability is utilizing natural resources, so they are not overused . ...