Environmental Impacts of Coal Burning

Coal burning generates millions of tonnes of wastes including fly ash, bottom ash, oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur, Volatile Organic Compounds, mercury, uranium, thorium, arsenic, and other heavy metals. High sulphur coal can cause Acid Rain which may result in soil deterioration and changes in soil chemistry due to addition of sulphur and nitrogen compounds in the soil. It also results in interference with groundwater and water table levels due to mining, contamination of land and waterways and destruction of homes from fly ash spills.