Analytical Exposition Text

The Disadvantages of Coal Mining

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Coal is a form of fossil fuel that is extracted from the ground through mining. The goal of coal mining application is to generate electricity which is good for development, however, this activity can give a harmful effects on our environment. Global warming, climate change and pollution. These are only few of many environmental concerns caused by burning of coal.

The burning of coal to produce energy greatly contributes to what they call global warming. This global warming involves greenhouse effect process by which radiative energy leaving a planetary surface is absorbed by greenhouse gases thus warming the earth’s surface. The reason why coal burning contributes to global warming is that coal releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and others. In some regions where coal burning is abundant, it has caused acid rains which contaminate vegetation soil and groundwater supply.

Besides the harmful emissions of coal burning, coal mining applications also ruin forests and local wildlife. Just take for example in the Cordillera Philippines, where coal mining activity is mostly done in this region, the Cordillera forest that used to be watershed protecting the Northern Luzon has been ruined by mining applications. Moreover, according to elders in that region, reforestation is even useless to save the watershed areas since these were now all replaced by mining applications.

The coal mining applications may bring livelihood to the public however the return of this activity to our environment and public health is worse than we could imagine. Mining industry causes health difficulties for miners and fatalities due to the dangers of the work. Hazardous wastes such as mercury and cyanide are only some of the toxic wastes of mining industry. If it is not taken care these toxic wastes could contaminate groundwater supply and vegetation lands.