Contents Contents Chapter 1 WHAT IS FOSSIL FUEL POLLUTION page 4 Chapter 2 SOLID WASTES page 8 Chapter 3 WASTEWATER page 20 Chapter 4 AIR EMISSIONS page 28 Chapter 5 WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE page 34 Learn More about Fossil Fuel Pollution 39 Glossary 38 Index 40
Chapter 1 WHAT IS FOSSIL FUEL POLLUTION We get energy from many types of fuel Fossil fuels are used more than any other kind of fuel Fossil fuels include coal natural gas and oil They are formed from the remains of plants and animals that died millions of years ago Fossil fuels are nonrenewable energy sources That means they cannot be replaced if we use them up A large rig collects oil from beneath the seafloor What must happen before the oil is ready for use 4 44
Some coal mines are 2,000 feet 600 meters below the ground Before fossil fuels can be made into energy they must be mined drilled or pumped out of the ground Then they must be cleaned and prepared for use These are dirty processes that create pollution 5
