Burning the Future: Coal in America

Other Toxins

Many toxic substances are naturally occurring, dispersed at a low concentration across every strata of the earth’s surface.  Coal mining and burning is a process by which acres upon acres of earth and and rock are concentrated, washed and burned, releasing the toxic elements that have been dispersed underground for millennia.  These elements are either released during mining through blasting and flood water containment (see MTR), pulled out from coal during washing/processing (see SLURRY), emitted in an ongoing stream from the smoke stack or burned down to ash.  Consequently, the toxins become concentrated. 

1. Beyond Mercury: Analyzes the shortcomings in recent legislation in terms of addressing other toxic pollution from various sources.
2. A 1978 study concluded that Americans living near coal-fired power plants are exposed to higher radiation doses than those living near nuclear power plants that meet government regulations.
3. Here is a listing of the air and land emissions from a coal plant.