What are the most important health and enviromental consequnces in use of fossil fuels

Question

What are the most important health and enviromental consequnces in use of fossil fuels

Answer 1

Burning fossil fuels impact on health by

CO2 emissions - contribute to climate change

Other pollutants especially particulate matter - cause asthma and other broncial diseases

SO2 emissions cause acid rain

Oil spills cause great damage to the oceans and the beaches

Coal mining degrades the landscape

There are lots more - start with the websites below

Answer 2

Pollution is the main concern.  From the beginning process of looking for fossil fuels to finding them to drilling for them to refining them to using them, fossil fuels pollute every step of the way.  There are so many toxic chemicals that come from mining processes of fossil fuels including arsenic, cyanide, mercury, sulfur.  THis doesnt mention the fact that most mines creat acid mine waste which can drop the pH of surrounding water bodies significantly due to acid substance run off...

Other concerns include:

Climate change...the steady build up of GHG in the atmoshphere is rising the temperatures causing a lot of problems now and into the future

Political impacts:

As fossil fuel reserves become less and less abundant the places with the reserves will begin to feel more political pressure and will eventually see conflict

Social Impacts:

Society begins to addict the fossil fuel life style and when the time comes to change the status quo there is too much resistance and we are forced to continue on a bad path.

Economic impacts:

Directly tied into Social and Political impacts

these are just some of the many