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
Fossil fuels are then burned in power plants homes and vehicles Burning these fuels produces heat and gases which are then used to make different forms of energy But making energy also creates pollution THE EXHAUST FROM A TRAIN’S SMOKESTACK IS AN EXAMPLE OF A POLLUTING GAS 6
Types of Fossil Fuel Pollution There are three main types of fossil fuel pollution The first is solid wastes These are the materials left behind when fossil fuels are burned The second is wastewater This is the water left over when fossil fuels are cleaned and prepared for use The third is air emissions These are the gases released when fossil fuels are burned Each type of pollution has effects on our environment But people are working on solutions that can reduce their impact You can help too Large pumps are used to bring oil out of the ground 7
