Coal fires induce considerable economic and environmental
problems.
The economic problem comprises in particular
the loss of large amounts of the unrenewable fossil fuel. It is
not only the burned coal that becomes useless for economic purpose
but the access to remaining reserves is often made difficult or
impossible by fires and coal production suffers.
Environmental effects caused by the coal
fires can be noticed at local and global level.
Heat and noxious gases affect the immediate surroundings of active
coal fires. The pollution turns it into an unpleasant place to
live. Plants in the area are killed. The land surface is cracked
or slumped, as the burned coal turns to ash, often the rock overburden
can no longer be supported. Extensive damage to infrastructure
like buildings, roads and railways could be the consequence. The
local population is not only plagued by the unpleasant environment
but the rates of cancer, lungs and gastrointestinal diseases are
higher than in other areas.
The main problem affecting the global environment is that coal
fires produce vast quantities of carbon dioxide, the main 'greenhouse'
gas. At present, Chinese coal fires produce 2-3% of the world's
total annual output of CO2 caused by fossil fuels.
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