Environmental Issues of Coal Mining Essays

Environmental Issues of Coal Mining Essays Environmental Issues of Coal Mining Paper Environmental Issues of Coal Mining Paper High levels of suspended particulate matter increase respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis and asthma cases while gaseous emissions contribute towards global warming besides causing health hazards to the exposed population. The uncontrolled dust not only creates serious health hazard but also affects the productivity through poor visibility, breakdown of equipment, increased maintenance cost and ultimately deteriorates the ambient air quality in and around the mining site. The dust can also pollute nearby surface waters and Stunt crop growth by shading and logging the pores of the plants. Besides polluting the environment, the generation of dust means the loss of fines, which act as road surface binders. Problem with greenhouse gases, acid rain and ground level ozone The key environmental challenges facing the coal industry are related to both coal mining and the use of coal greenhouse gases, acid rain and ground level ozone, issues which can be local, regional and global in their impacts. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon which refers to the increase in the earths surface temperature due to the presence of certain gases in the atmosphere. There is concern that this natural phenomenon is being altered by a greater build up of gases caused by human activity. This is known as the enhanced greenhouse effect. The combustion of coal, like that of other fossil fuels, produces CO, a gas that is linked to global warming through the greenhouse effect. The combustion of coal produces gaseous emissions of sulfur dioxide (SIS) and nitrous oxides (Knox) that are responsible for the production of acid rain and ground level ozone. Acid rain occurs when SIS and Knox gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen and other Heimlich to form acidic compounds. Ground level ozone (03) is mainly responsible for smog that forms a brown haze over cities. Ground level ozone is formed when Knox gases react with other chemicals in the atmosphere and is enhanced by strong sunlight. Emissions of SIS and Knox are termed trans- boundary air pollution because the environmental impacts from the production of these gases are not restricted by geographical boundaries. II) Impact of Coal Mine Fires A number of coal mines in the country are affected by fires leading to steady destruction of precious energy resource. The reason for mine fires resalable involves the phenomenon of spontaneous heating through two interrelated processes biz. , the oxygen coal interaction or oxidative process and the thermal process. If remains uncontrolled, the fire could spread further through interconnected pathways and fissures in the strata. It is estimated that about 10% of total national coal resources are in the fire- affected areas. Mine fires give rise to several environmental problems besides safety hazards and economic losses. Apart from direct losses due to burning of coal, the other associated hazards encountered are: I) gas poisoning, ii) difficult ego- inning conditions, iii) sterilization of coal, iv) hindrance to production v) explosions, vi) damage to structure and adjacent properties, etc. (Ill) Impact of Mining on Water regime Disturbance to hydrological regime Mining and its associated activities not only uses a lot Of water but also affects the hydrological regime of the district and often affects the water quality. Large and deep opencast mines usually have great impact on the hydrological regime of the region. The major hydrological impact of a large and deep opencast mine, however, is on the ground water regime of the region. The eater seeping into the mine and collected in the mine sump is partly used up in the mine and the excess amount is discharged into the surface drainage system. The water used up in the mine for spraying on haul roads, conveyors, at loading and unloading points, bunkers etc. Are lost by evaporation. A deep mine is likely to have longer haul roads requiring more spraying water. The water used for green belts and plantation areas are also lost by Eva- transpiration.. Many areas of the country are faced with the problem Of over exploitation of ground water resources resulting in alarming lowering of eater table. Therefore a lot of care has to be taken in estimating the water need and the mines of future are likely to be subjected to a lot of constraints on water use and discharge. Acid Mine Drainage Acidic water results in severe water pollution problems. Acid Mine Drainage (MAD) refers to distinctive types of waste bodies that originate from the weathering and leaching of sulfide minerals present in coal and associated strata. Environmental effects of MAD include contamination of drinking water and disrupted growth and reproduction Of aquatic plants and animals. Effects f MAD related to water pollution include the killing of fish and loss of aquatic life and corrosion of mining equipments and structures such as barges, bridges and concrete materials. MAD is the most persistent pollution problems in mines of North Eastern Coalfield. Generally, water quality characteristics of acidic mine water reflect high acidity and high hardness along with high iron and sulfate contents. Various toxic trace/ heavy metals become soluble in acidic water and may be presenting significant to concentration levels depending upon their availability in the source material. Fortunately the considerable majority of coal mining areas are safe and only in a few localized areas problem of MAD exists. MAD cripples the economy of mines due to compliance of stringent environmental standards and involves huge cost burden in its management. IV) Impact of Mining on Land Irrespective of the type of mining used for extracting coal, mining invariably results in enormous land disturbance- e. G. Large scale excavation, removal of top soil, dumping of solid wastes, cutting of roads, creation of derelict land etc. The mining industry, in general, is reluctant to remanded overburden trial for economic reasons but in a few cases it has been planned to remanded the material to fill the voids created at the end of mining, and it is expected that the practice will become more widespread in future.